Project Team
Students
Catherine Suria
Civil Engineering
Penn State Harrisburg
Faculty Mentors
Nikhil Menon
Penn State Harrisburg
Civil Engineering
Andisheh Ranjbari
Penn State University Park
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Project
Project Video
Project Abstract
Bikeshare is a sustainable mode of transportation that has become more prevalent and more significant in cities as the effects of climate change are being felt. The Greater Harrisburg Tri-County area is seeking to implement such a system, and the university community of Middletown presents an opportunity that may benefit from such a proposal. Through study of the Middletown community and the surrounding neighborhoods, it is possible to design a bikeshare system that caters to the needs of the population by increasing accessibility to jobs and essential services. Middletown’s current accessibility was first quantified using Hansen’s formula for walking trips. Then, utilizing ArcGIS, census data, regional information, and existing bike infrastructure, station locations were identified for the system design. With the prospective system in place, accessibility was again quantified and compared to accessibility without the system. It was found that bike share did increase access in the range of 40%-570% for certain block groups. These results show the potential of cities designing around metrics like accessibility, as a means to sustainably and efficiently plan transit and construction, while at the same time meeting the needs of residents and promoting a healthier lifestyle. With innovations in technology that increase the amount of data available to researchers and engineers, accessibility should become a more central aspect of urban planning.
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