Bicycle and Pedestrian Gap Analysis

In late 2022, the Bozeman City Commission asked staff to do a gap analysis study to find areas in the city where bicycle and pedestrian paths have connectivity problems. Closing these gaps became a key focus to improve infrastructure to provide a more connected and safe system for active transportation and mobility in the community.

City staff regularly use mapping tools and adopted plans to identify where connectivity is missing between facilities. However, these tools and plans are now outdated so staff have recognized the need for a more robust mapping effort and prioritization tool.

The City Commission and CityContinue reading

The City Commission and City Staff are committed to prioritizing active transportation facilities in the community. We aim to close gaps so residents can easily reach workplaces, essential services, schools, parks, and other places. Recent plans like the Climate Action Plan and the Parks, Recreation, and Active Transportation Plan (PRAT) have also supported improving connectivity and closing the gaps throughout the community.

The Consultant team and City staff are working together on this project with four major steps in the coming months:

Identify Physical Gaps in our bicycle and pedestrian network: Utilize a robust mapping effort and updates to the City's geographic information system (GIS) database to get a clear snapshot of the existing active transportation infrastructure in our city. This step includes defining a gap is in our community. See below for more information on the types of gaps already identified.
Create an Analysis Tool: Develop a data-driven tool to rank bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects based on local needs and criteria.
Develop a Master List: Make a list of prioritized projects for the next five years, by facility type (i.e. sidewalks, shared-use paths, bicycle lanes, and crossings at key streets).
Write a Report: Summarize the project approach, provide guidance on a project weighting system, and share best practices.

In the coming weeks and months, the community will have multiple ways to be a part of the outreach and engagement effort. Through this website, the community will be able to access information, provide comments and ask questions. In addition, there will be several opportunities for public engagement, including public meetings and open houses.

Raffle!

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Who doesn't love a great door prize?
Join us for a public open house on August 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Safety Center and be eligible to win a cool raffle prize package that includes one of our vintage "Bike Route" signs and other fun stuff. (You do not need to be present for the whole event in order to win. We will contact you and arrange a pick up time if you win the prize). See other posts on this page for more details about the event.
Open House

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Please join us for a public open house at the Community Room at the Safety Center at 901 North Rouse Avenue on August 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The open house will be an informal setting with the opportunity to have conversations with the team and other community members about active transportation gaps in the system. Attendees can join the open house when it is convenient for them during the four hour duration of the event.
Please consider walking or biking to the open house. Bicycle parking is available on the south side of the building and the facility has public restrooms and drinking water available. The project team will provide bubbly water for refreshment.
Hope to see you there!
Types of Preliminary Gaps Defined

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Five types of gaps have been identified thus far by our project planning team. These will be discussed at public meetings in the coming weeks and months. The following descriptions will hopefully provide some background about what a "gap" is and how we can help create connectivity for active transportation by closing those gaps in our system.
The gap types are:
1. Spot Gap – Key focal points, such as crossings or intersections that lack appropriate accommodations for comfortable pedestrian or bicycle travel.
2. Linear Gaps – Sections of missing segments of sidewalk, trail, bicycle lane, or shared use path that create gaps between existing built facilities.
3. Area Gaps – Full neighborhoods or areas of town that have few to no sidewalks (such as the New Hyalite View subdivision) or areas that lack any comfortable bicycle facilities (such as Downtown Bozeman).
4. Experiential Gap – Existing sections of street or trail which do not offer as comfortable or attractive an experience as upstream and downstream segments. This may result in some types of users to not travel due to a reduction in experience quality.
5. Network Gap – Opportunities to enhance existing active transportation networks or sections of disconnected, but previously planned transportation facilities, such as within future subdivisions or to be included with future roadway improvement projects.
Upcoming Meetings and Public Outreach Events

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7/24/2024 - Transportation Advisory Board from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission meeting room
8/13/2024 - Public Open House from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Chuck Winn Community Room in the Safety Center
9/10/2024 - City Commission workshop at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission meeting room
Future events in the fall to be scheduled at a later date...stay tuned!