BikeBR - A Community Bikeability Tool

Warren Kron
City of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA

The City-Parish Planning Commission (CPPC) has created an interactive mapping tool called BikeBR to assist with determining which areas of Baton Rouge are easily accessible by bicyclists. A “Bikeability” Index was developed utilizing factor analysis methods, and data derived from public surveys. The resultant index is a measure of how safe, easy, and desirable it is to bike instead of drive. Public road conditions were also assessed to conduct an evaluation of the bikeability in neighborhoods.

The Website integrates geospatial data from the Enterprise GIS database and the popular Google Maps application. The user interface offers a bicycle route planning tool to promote the use of existing bicycle facilities that were recently implemented through the Office of the Mayor-President. Additionally, users have the ability to view locations of amenities such as parks, bike shops, coffee shops, etc.

Our session will highlight the development and implementation of BikeBR and provide a brief demonstration of the application. The audience will see the resulting bikeability index and learn how to use the tools to map a route that is bike friendly. There will also be a brief synopsis of the Neighborhood Bicycle Suitability Assessment survey that is available through BikeBR.
BikeBR is a component of the City-Parish Bicycle/Pedestrian Initiative and HealthyBR.

The primary goal of BikeBR and the Bike/Ped Initiative is to encourage biking on our streets.

Biography

Warren Kron, Jr. is the GIS Coordinator for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge Planning Commission. His 13 years of public practice in the planning and GIS professions have included developing the Parishwide GIS, designing applications and tools for decision-makers, mapping and analysis, land use and environmental planning, and urban design. Warren earned a bachelor degree in landscape architecture from Louisiana State University in 1997.