The Access to Bicycle Infrastructure indicator measures the percent of residential parcels in the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy area that are within one half mile and one quarter mile of a bicycle facility. The half mile and quarter mile are used here as representations of reasonable bicycling distance to an amenity.
Bicycle facilities that were counted in the analysis include the following: bike lanes, bike paths, bike routes, shared-use paths (i.e., trails), shared bike/parking lanes, and sharrows.
The access analysis was performed using linear distance, rather than distance along a street network, so access in some areas may be limited by characteristics of the street network (e.g., form, lack or condition of sidewalks) or major barriers (e.g. highways and other wide roads that are difficult or dangerous to cross).
Residential access to bicycle facilities in Champaign-Urbana-Savoy is very good: as of the analysis performed in June 2022, over 78 percent of residential parcels are within one quarter mile of a bicycle facility, and over 96 percent of residential parcels are within one half mile of a bicycle facility.
The ability to get around the community without a car is an important part of overall connectivity and equity, and access to active transportation infrastructure such as bicycle facilities offers residents another mode option. In addition to the benefits of another transportation option, bicycling also offers recreational and health benefits.
The percentage analysis was performed in GIS using map layers from the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) and Champaign County GIS Consortium (CCGISC). The analysis is done on an annual basis, to account for any changes in both bicycle infrastructure and residential areas.
