Design:

Designing a trail or greenway can be a lengthy, complicated process, but good, foresighted design is essential to the success of such projects. Many trail and greenway projects require the input of a design consultant or other expert assistance. However, there are a few basic principles and several key resources that should inform all those involved with the development of a trail or greenway.

The greatest imperative in trail and greenway design is to design the facility to meet the needs of all expected users. Before a trail or greenway is designed, planners must have in mind the various needs and expectations of different groups of users, including both humans and wildlife. This is especially important for multi-use trail design with regard to trail width, surface material and trail amenities. For example, trails that will serve a large number of bicycle commuters may have different design characteristics to favor high-speed travel, as opposed to trails that will serve an almost exclusively recreational purpose. For greenways that do not include trails, there are often important design considerations involved in providing public access to certain areas and preventing access to other areas, as well as making sure that habitat is preserved and/or restored for desired species. In addition, the best trail and greenway designs also take into consideration the historic and cultural assets that may be associated with a corridor and make it truly unique.

Trail and greenway designers rely upon several comprehensive and authoritative resources which provide guidelines and standards. Foremost among these is Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Trails for the Twenty-First Century, now in its second edition. Learn more about and/or purchase this book.

Also crucial to designers of trails is the 1999 Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Often referred to as "The AASHTO Guide" or "The Green Book," this publication contains detailed guidelines for both on- and off-road facilities for bicycle use, including recreational trails. Learn more about and/or purchase this book.

When possible, trail and greenway designers must be sure to include design provisions necessary to accommodate physically disabled users. Luckily, there is a set of two volumes sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation that deal at length with this issue, under the title Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access. Part One, published in 1998, is a review of existing standards on resources. Part Two, released in 2001, serves as a comprehensive best practices design guide. Part One can be viewed, and Part Two can be purchased, by clicking here. Many other helpful links and design resources can be found at this USDOT Web page.

Many other resources on trail and greenway design can be found by searching our Resource Database.