Bridging the Gap: A Bike Route to Culturally Connect Greater Providence

1. Bridging the Gap: A Bike Route to Culturally Connect Greater Providence GaliaDeitz, John Goncalves, Jason Steinbach

2. The East Coast Greenway • “The East Coast Greenway vision is for a long-distance, urban, shared-use trail system linking 25 major cities along the eastern seaboard between Calais, Maine and Key West, Florida.” • Similar to EuroVelo and Trans Canada Trail

3. RI Bike Coalition • Mission: “The Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition exists to promote and enable bicycling as a healthy, enjoyable, efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation in and around the State of Rhode Island.” • Founded in the Fall of 2007 to promote communication/organization between cycling groups Eric Weiss, East Coast Greenway Trail Coordinator

4. The RI Bike Coalition Stake in the East Coast Greenway Catering to Bicycles and Pedestrians: To develop and maintain a bike path that ensures and encourages biking as an energy efficient, environmentally friendly, economically beneficial, healthy, and safe mode of transportation and recreation.

7. RI Bike Coalition We need a way to connect the existing Washington Secondary bike path and the Blackstone River Bikeway. Specifically, we need a route extending from Cranston, through Providence, to Pawtucket. The proposed path needs to be safe, enjoyable, and good for the Providence community. Eric Weiss, East Coast Greenway Trail Coordinator

8. What We Heard: Ideally we would: • Integratebicycling, walking, and public transit to attract bike and pedestrian commuters • Improvebicycle access (connectivity) in surrounding neighborhoods, to encourage longer trips • Designate aroute to ensure user safety • Provide low cost mobility options for those who don’t have access to transportation modes

9. Our Research Plan: • Goal/Aims: • To improve upon the existing broken bike paths that connect the Washington Secondary Bike Path and Blackstone River Pathway, while ensuring the safety and enjoyment of route users, and providing a survey of the different cultures that contribute to the city of Providence • Methodology: • Historical context • Demographics • Traffic analysis • Crime analysis • Ethnographic survey

12. “Our” Providence…

13. Neighborhoods of Providence Pawtucket North Providence • 25 official neighborhoods, that are grouped together as the following: • The East Side • The Jewelry District (“The Knowledge District”) • The North End • The South Side • West Broadway • The West Side East Providence Cranston

14. Silver Lake: A Brief History • 1710 Plainfield Road • Rural area with sparse agricultural development through 18th and much of 19th century • Rapid urbanization beginning at 20th century due to industrial growth • Division of northern and southern communities St. Bartholomew's Church on Laurel Hill Avenue

15. Silver Lake: Demographics • Largest proportion of residents are Italian • 23.2% is Italian • 11.9% is Irish • 9.1% is Asian • 8.6% is English • 7.4% is French • 1.8% is Armenian • 5.0% is Portuguese • 68.7% of households speak English • 17.5% born out of the country • 37.9% of commuters spend under 15 minutes commuting one-way to work • 80.7% of residents drive alone in private automobile • 11.8% carpool

16. Neighborhoods of Providence Pawtucket North Providence • 25 official neighborhoods, that are grouped together as the following: • The East Side • The Jewelry District (“The Knowledge District”) • The North End • The South Side • West Broadway • The West Side East Providence Cranston

17. Hartford: A Brief History • Rural, agricultural region in 17th and 18th centuries • Industrialization began with Mill Merino in 1812 • “Merino cloth” • Hartford Park Public Housing Project and Manton Heights Housing Project • Construction of Route 6 Connector Site of soapstone quarry used by Narragansett Indians

18. Hartford: Demographics • Largest proportion of residents are Italian • 17.6% is Italian • 16.2% is Puerto Rican • 9.9% is Dominican • 5.9% is Irish • 5.3% is Asian • 4.0% is Portuguese • 44.9% of households speak Spanish • 27.7% born out of the country • 35.7% of commuters spend under 15 minutes commuting one-way to work • 71.5% of residents drive alone in private automobile • 22.3% carpool • 20.4% of neighborhood households are run by single mothers

19. A Block Group in Hartford We were able to extract interesting demographic data from the map on different "block groups" or sections of neighborhoods. Using the housing area just south of Merino Park, we find that more than half of households make less than $15,000 a year. It is unsurprising that this area is underserved in terms of public amenities such as safe bike paths.

20. More than half of residents are younger than 24. (left) The vast majority of households have 0-1 vehicles available. (right) It seems that biking for the sake of mobility would make sense in an urban area like this, where mostly young, physically capable people are poor and lack access to affordable, reliable transportation.

21. Neighborhoods of Providence Pawtucket North Providence • 25 official neighborhoods, that are grouped together as the following: • The East Side • The Jewelry District (“The Knowledge District”) • The North End • The South Side • West Broadway • The West Side East Providence Cranston

22. Olneyville: A Brief History • One of Providence’s oldest neighborhoods • Part of the Providence Colony that Roger Williams acquired from Narragansett Indians in 1636 • Larger settlement began in 1785 after Christopher Olney founded a grist mill and a paper mill • Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Calendaring Company

23. Thoughts on the Olneyville Community

24. Olneyville: Demographics • Largest proportion of residents are Italian • 17.6% is Italian • 16.2% is Puerto Rican • 9.9% is Dominican • 5.9% is Irish • 5.3% is Asian • 4.0% is Portuguese • 45.5% of households speak Spanish • 32.9% born out of the country • 35.8% (majority) of commuters spend under 15 minutes commuting one-way to work • 59.2% of residents drive alone in private automobile • 26.6% carpool • 20.3% of neighborhood households are run by single mothers • 3.6% of individuals have earned a bachelor’s degree

25. A Block Group, in Olneyville This is another block group further along the bike path, across Rt. 6 into Olneyville. Average number of vehicles available: 0.7. The vast majority of this housing area makes less than $15,000 a year.

26. Crime in Providence • Providence property crime statistics report an overall downward trend in crime based on data from 11 years • Providence violent crime has fluctuated, and does not seem to follow any positive or negative data trend Source: Providence Police Department

27. Actual vs. Projected Crime Totals Larceny and Theft 5,088 Motor Vehicle Theft 1,077 Larceny and Theft 4,060 Motor Vehicle Theft 561 Source: Providence Police Department

28. Source: Providence Police Department

29. Source: Providence Police Department

30. Larceny includes shoplifting, pickpocket, pursesnatch, from building, bicycles, motor vehicle parts or accessories, and other.

31. Traffic in Providence • 65 of all road crashes in 2008 resulted in fatalities • 83 of all road crashes in 2009 resulted in fatalities • This is a 28% increase over 1 year • In 2009, there were 0 reported cyclist deaths in the entire state of Rhode Island • Compare to 6 in Massachusetts and 1 in Connecticut • 17 deaths on "local roads" in Rhode Island in 2009 • 45-54 is age group with highest number of deaths due to road crashes • Ages 16-20 are second highest

32. The Google Earth data also helped us to identify the streets along our path that have the most average daily traffic. Hartford Avenue, which seems to be the most troublesome spot on (in this case crossing) the path, has 9,700 AADT (as of 1996). For reference, compare this to the graph at left of the AADT of each interchange on I-95. We may want to advise cyclists of trouble spots along the path, especially where there is traffic and/or no sidewalk.

33. The Three Classes of Bikeways: Class I- Shared use path: A marked lane exclusively for bike travel on roadways. Class II- Bike lane: A dedicated exclusive bike path meant for bike and pedestrian traffic.

34. The Three Classes of Bikeways: Class III- Bike Route: Sometimes marked, Class III Bike Routes offer advantages compared to alternative routes. Bicycle riders must share the roadway with other vehicles.

35. Bike Path Inventory a.) Bicycle Crimes/Violations • Ease of bike thefts can be a significant factor that discourages bike use • Problem: Most of the individuals who have had their bikes stolen, often failed to license them. Thus, it’s difficult for the police department to trace back the ownership of the bikes. • Solution: More uniform process for reporting lost or stolen bicycles and encouraging licensing of the bikes and increasing the security

36. Bike Path Inventory b.) Bicycle Crashes • While bicycling is a fairly safe activity, incidents leading to serious accidents and injuries are not uncommon • As a result of the small injury rate of crashes/accidents, many go unreported. Hence the data and the analysis is not always accurate.

37. Bike Path Inventory: c.) Police Involvement and Security • Has particular relevancy to District 5 • More officer patrol is an effective way of crime prevention • Officers on bicycles are in close contact with residents, increasing public relations. • Visibility of bike patrols encourages bicycle use

38. Noted concerns Bike and Pedestrian Impediments: • Cars • Disinterest in bicycle path • Pedestrians walking along path • Litter Signage Issues • Limited signage and directional signage for bicycles. Citizens were very specific about having improved signage if bike path was instituted.

39. Noted Concerns (Cont.) Connectivity Issue • Intersection at Heath Street poses a problem to potential bikers, especially children • A majority of the interviewees expressed views regarding better connectivity of the existing network • Providing proper separation marks for cars, bikes, and pedestrians Maintenance Needs • Weather (rain, snow, debri from high-winds) • Concerns about how regularly the potential bikeway need to be maintained, cleaned and made safe/usable

40. Noted Concerns (Cont.) Education Issues • There were concerns about educating both the motorists and bicyclists to understand and practice the valid traffic rules in order to co-exist safely down Merino Park Promotion Issues • The final concern was promoting bike and encouraging bike use

41. Our Research Plan: Interviews Revisiting the Mission: To develop and maintain a bike path that ensures and encourages biking as an energy efficient, environment friendly, economically beneficial, healthy and safe mode of transportation. • Hypothesis: • That bicycle demand will be low in the surrounding areas • That people living in our proposed bike path area would be generally unreceptive to the idea • Given the concerns and issues surrounding safety • Due to the fact that alternative modes of transportation aren't adequately encouraged and promoted

42. How? • We approached individuals with a set of questions regarding their background, what they thought about the building of the proposed bike path, and if they thought that they, personally would use it • These individuals were approached at Merino Park, Rhode Island Hospital, at Riverside Park, at Olneyville Playground, and on Manton Avenue

43. Interview Results (so far): • Have completed 72 interviews thus far... • Survey group is fairly diverse: • 30 women • 42 men • 8 in the 0-18 age group • 33 in the 19-29 age group • 19 in the 30-40 age group • 9 in the 41-51 age group • 3 in the 52-up age group • 43 are Hispanic • 24 are African American • 5 are Caucasian

44. Selected Data... • 72% of survey population owned a bicycle; 28% did not • 78% said they did not think they would use the bike path; 18% said they might; 4% said they definitely would • Of those that said they would use the bike path: 22% said they would use it for commuting, 59% said they would use it for walking, and 19% said jogging • Of those that volunteered comments afterward: 48% expressed concerns regarding crime; 33% expressed concern regardin traffic crimes; 12% expressed concern specifically for safety of children

45. Their Voices • “The cars drive too fast down the [Merino] park entrance” • “There needs to be police on bike patrols” • “I might use it to go to friends if I had a bike” • “No one would like it because people litter everywhere here [Merino Park]” • “I couldn’t ride to work because there’s no showers there [place of work]” • “There isn’t enough light on the path”

46. Specifically… • 32 year old, Hispanic, female, 3 children, divorced • Interviewed at Merino Park during child’s soccer practice • Felt bike path would be too dangerous for children alone • Think that path would attract gangs, and other crimes • When we explained what the East Coast Greenway was, she still didn’t think that all the bike traffic would drive away crime • Didn’t think she needed a bike for anything because she doesn’t have time for exercise and she drives to work

47. … • 27 year old, Black, male • Interviewed at Rhode Island Hospital during business hours • I knew this man on a more personal basis – he delivers the mail to the lab that I work in (was more comfortable than most interviewees because of this) • Thought bike path could be a good idea, but didn’t think that he would ever use it • Thought that the people that used the bike path would be “rich and probably white” because, when the function of this bike path was explained (as part of the East Coast Greenway) he didn’t think that any other type of person would have the time to use it • Thought that if too many people started using it, it could get crowded due to lane width

48. … • 29 years old, Black, female • Interviewed at Olneyville Playground while she was watching her children play • Didn’t foresee personal use, but did think that other people “from other areas” would use it • When asked to elaborate on where exactly these people that would use it would be from, she only said that they would be from outside of the Olneyville-Hartford area • Said she might let her kids walk on it to school, since their school is close enough to walk, but she worries about them handling traffic

49. … • 30 year old, Hispanic, male, 2 children, married • Interviewed at Merino Park basketball court • Didn’t ride a bike but mentioned that his son did • Felt bike path would not be an idea because cars drive by too fast • Mentioned that the lack of park signs would make it extremely dangerous

50. … • 19 year old, Black, male, single • Interviewed in Merino Park parking lot • Mentioned that it’s not a perfect place for a bike path because cars come in and out, and kids are always running around • If crime was going to happen on the bike path no one would be able to stop it • People would be able to do their work and get away