The Development of Regional Cycling Networks
This panel will discuss the development of three regional bicycle networks from the State of Maine and Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, focusing on building partnerships for network development to help meet broader transportation and economic goals. Viewpoints will be shared about networks that are at different stages of development and from the perspective of different proponents. (21)



The 2003 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) -What It Is and How It Affects Bicyclists
The 2003 MUTCD defines national standards for signing, marking, signals, and other traffic control on all ways open to public travel in the United States. This edition, published by the FHWA last November, contains a number of changes from the 2000 edition, many of which directly affect bicyclists. The MUTCD directly controls what can and can't be used for traffic control for bicyclists and other road users. The presenter will briefly explain the parts of the MUTCD and their effects on safe and convenient bicycle travel. (22)


Measuring the Economic Benefits and Costs of Bicycle Facilities
In some eyes, spending money for bicycling facilities is considered a luxury; the merits of which are increasingly being called into question. How can cycling advocates demonstrate that their facilities matter and will increase use? The presenter will focus on two (relatively new) ways in which such economic benefits can be measured and will summarize the collection of facility cost information to date, identify what cost information is available, and where data collection is needed. (23)


Economic Effects of Traffic Calming on Urban Small Businesses
Bicycle Facility Planning and Design If transportation engineers, city planners, and advocates were better able to provide empirical data showing how traffic calming measures could improve small business conditions, these types of projects might be approved with fewer impediments, more community support, and at a lower cost. Following a brief overview of past research, six hypotheses will be presented about how traffic calming projects can economically impact retailers in highly urbanized areas. (28)


Bicycle and Pedestrian Research Needs
Published in 2000 by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the report "Bicycle and Pedestrian Data: Sources, Needs, and Gaps" provided the transportation planning community with a comprehensive account of existing and desired data to aid in better understanding bicycle/pedestrian planning and travel behavior. Four years later it is important to revisit the recommendations and how such data needs are being met for the research community, and how the professional and research communities can better work together to collect data. (36)