This document describes the development of a new method to analyze the quality of service provided by shared paths of various widths and the accommodation of various travel-mode splits. The researchers assembled the new method using new theoretical traffic-flow concepts, a large setof operational data from 15 paths in 10 cities across the United States, and the perceptions of more than 100 path users. Given a count or estimate of the overall path user volume in the design-hour, the new method described here can provide the level of service for path widths from 2.44 to 6.1 meters (8 to 20 feet).
The information in this document should be of interest to planners, engineers, parks and recreation professionals, and to others involved in the planning, design, operation, and/or maintenance of shared paths. In addition, this document will be of interest to researchers investigating how to analyze multiple modes of travelers in a finite space with minimal traffic control
