Active Transportation Models for Rural Communities
Active transportation is any mode of transportation powered by human energy. This model most commonly supports walking or biking, and it also supports rolling, such as rolling a wheelchair, roller blading, skateboarding, scooters, and other forms of non-vehicular physical activity. Small, low-speed, electric-powered forms of transportation, including electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric scooters (e-scooters), and other forms of micromobility, are also considered active transportation.
Active transportation models help connect people to their destinations, including other modes of transportation like public transit. Similar to microtransit, active transportation can provide first and last mile connections. In addition, active transportation is an inexpensive, accessible way for residents to get exercise, explore their communities, run errands, and commute to work or school. In some rural communities, walking and biking for transportation is almost as common as in cities.
To ensure the physical safety of rural residents, dedicated infrastructure is needed for biking and walking, including protected bike lanes and pedestrian crosswalks. Infrastructure improvements can also help promote use of active transportation.
Examples of Programs that Promote Active Transportation
- In the late 19th Century, the U.S. railroad industry built thousands of miles of rail for cargo and passenger transportation. Since then, many routes have been abandoned, particularly those that pass through rural communities. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy supports local and state agencies interested in converting these corridors to paved or unpaved multi-use pathways for commuting and recreation. Rural communities with rail-trail systems can benefit from increased tourism, increased property values, and lower crime around the rail corridor. These investments also provide additional opportunities for residents to walk, bike, or use other forms of active transportation in their natural surroundings. States with large rural populations like West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska have built successful rail-trail systems.
- Children who live in rural areas may face barriers to safely walking or biking to school. The National Center for Safe Routes to School supports communities that want to encourage active transportation to reduce child obesity, decrease traffic congestion near schools, and increase community connectedness. Between 2022 and 2026, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $5 billion for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which includes the Safe Routes to School initiative. There is evidence that Safe Routes to Schools increases use of active transportation.
- Sheboygan County, Wisconsin was 1 of 4 communities selected for the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, a federal program that provided a $25 million grant to promote, improve, and evaluate walking and bicycling infrastructure.
- Granville County, North Carolina developed the Granville Greenway system to improve walkability in an area where residents have relied solely on motor vehicle transportation. Since there is no public transit infrastructure in the county, the Greenway system has transformed old trail lines into paved pathways for pedestrians to walk and bike around the community.
- Morgan County, located in rural Northeast Colorado, received a grant from the Colorado Community Access to Electronic Bicycles Grant Program, which was funded by the state's Energy Office to provide e-bikes to people with low- and moderate-income in the county. The grant enabled the Fort Morgan E-Bike Access Program to provide 30 e-bikes to college students and low-income workers in the county. The program helped the community address lack of reliable transit within the county, a barrier identified in the city's comprehensive plan.
Considerations for Implementation
Rural communities interested in active transportation models should consider how infrastructure and the built environment influence safety and use of this form of transportation. Examples of infrastructure to support active transportation include sidewalks, shared-use paths, and separated bikes lanes. Rumble strips are an effective safety feature that reduce crashes where the vehicle crosses the center line or leaves the roadway. Edge-line rumble strips (placed on the shoulder of the road) are particularly effective in reducing crashes on rural freeways. However, rumble strips can make it difficult, uncomfortable, and dangerous for bicyclists to ride along a road shoulder. if there is not at least 4 feet of shoulder space, bicyclists may be forced to ride in the same lane as high-speed traffic, increasing the likelihood of a collision with a vehicle. The Federal Highway Administration provides specific guidance on maximizing the safety benefits of rumble strips for both vehicles and bicycles.
In rural communities, micromobility can ease transportation barriers such as lack of access to public transit, longer distance to destinations, mobility impairments, and lack of personal vehicle. For example, people who are interested in using active transportation may find e-bikes are easier to use than standard bicycles when traveling longer distances. In addition, older adults, people with mobility impairments, and others who struggle to ride a standard bicycle may find e-bikes appealing. E-bikes may also be a more affordable form of transportation for individuals who do not have personal vehicles due to cost barriers.
Resources to Learn More
Safe Routes to School National
Partnership: Rural Resources
Website
Includes fact sheets and toolkit specific to rural concerns
about the best practices to promote safe routes for walking and biking activities. Offers examples of
programs supporting rural efforts.
Organization(s): Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Small
Town and Rural Multimodal Networks
Document
A resource for community transportation planners in rural settings interested in promoting safe and
accessible active transportation options. Describes how to apply national guidelines to rural settings,
and offers case studies detailing the implementation process.
Organization(s): U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
Date: 12/2016
Transportation and Health
Tool
Website
Provides data on transportation and public health in the U.S. by state and metropolitan area focusing on
the transportation environment and its impact on health. Suggests strategies for improving transportation
and health-related outcomes.
Organization(s): U.S. Department of Transportation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Using Active
Transportation and Context Sensitive Solutions to Enhance Livability in Rural Communities and Small
Towns
Video/Multimedia
Discusses strategies for improving livability and connectivity in rural communities through collaborative
efforts.
Organization(s): Federal Highway Administration
Date: 3/2017