Essential reading and research on alternative transportation, drawing on global evidence to inform local conversations about better ways to get around San Marcos.
ESSENTIAL BOOKS
Walkable City / Streetfight / Life After Cars
High Cost of Free Parking / Paved Paradise
Human Transit / Better Buses, Better Cities
Traffication: How Cars Destroy Nature
For the child in your life: Spot’s Parking Lot
RESEARCH: WALKING, HEALTH, DENSITY
Research consistently shows that walkable neighborhoods play a key role in helping people achieve recommended levels of physical activity. While pedestrian-friendly workplaces and social areas—such as downtown districts—also support movement, residential neighborhoods with nearby amenities tend to have the greatest impact. When daily destinations are within easy walking distance, physical activity becomes a natural part of everyday life.
RESEARCH: WHEN DRIVERS MEET CYCLISTS
How do interactions between drivers and cyclists shape safety and experience on our streets? The research highlighted below examines how people perceive and respond to one another in mixed-traffic environments, including psychological factors that can influence driver behavior and contribute to close-call incidents. Together, these studies point to the value of thoughtful street design, driver education, and infrastructure that supports cyclists of all ages and abilities.
RESOURCE: PARKING OR CYCLING?
Discussions about protected bike lanes are sometimes framed as a tradeoff between cycling space and parking or vehicle access. This resource invites a broader look at that assumption.
A 2015 article published by CityLab brings together twelve international case studies examining streets where some parking was repurposed for bicycle infrastructure. Across these examples, the research suggests that increased bike access can lead to more frequent visits to local businesses and, over time, increased economic activity.
RESEARCH: BIKE LANES AND THE ECONOMY
Changes to street design—such as converting on-street parking to bike lanes—often prompt important community discussions. A growing body of research finds that these changes are associated with neutral to positive economic outcomes, particularly in higher-density areas where improved bike access can support local activity and access.
TOOL: STREET SPACE MAPPING
Urban designer and cycling advocate Mikael Colville-Andersen offers a simple framework for understanding how street space is allocated. By visually mapping streets according to different transportation uses—such as driving, walking, and cycling—this approach helps communities see which modes are prioritized. Examining how much space is dedicated to each type of movement can provide useful insight into why people choose certain ways of getting around.
RESEARCH: TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES REDUCE CONGESTION
Providing a range of transportation options—such as walking, cycling, and public transit—can help improve overall traffic conditions. When people have safe, convenient alternatives to driving for some trips, fewer cars are on the road at the same time. Research shows that even small shifts in how people travel can reduce congestion, improve travel reliability, and make streets function more efficiently for everyone, including those who continue to drive.
MoveSM 