February 2, 2017 – Simply widening sidewalks and increasing the bike lanes network can boost the number of New York City commuters who choose to take advantage of an option that’s healthy for people and the environment, according to Husain Aziz of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Urban Dynamics Institute. Aziz and ORNL colleagues studied New York Department of Transportation travel survey data and simulated the travel mode choices of approximately 3.5 million commuters. They developed models that can help decision-makers decide evaluate the effects of new infrastructure investments. “Our high-performance commuter-based model examines the impact of proposed changes in walk-bike infrastructure down to the block level,” Aziz said. The study also examined the role of social interactions with family and co-workers on the preference to walk and bike. While this study focused on New York, its methodology can seamlessly be adapted to other U.S. cities.
This map of New York City shows how many people walk to work each morning. The resolution is block group level.