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5.8 Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure Pedestrian and bicycle access to transit is often a neglected component of transit planning, design and operations. It is, however, an important indicator of transit usage for both captive and choice riders. There is a strong correlation between the availability of good quality pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and transit utilization. Transit patrons, particularly the elderly and disabled, need to feel comfortable, safe and secure when accessing transit facilities. Without good pedestrian and bicycle access to transit, the only way commuters can be attracted out of their cars is by providing extensive and expensive parking at transit stops. In contrast, pedestrian and bicycle facilities planning often requires small scale and cost effective additions or modifications to existing facilities which can dramatically improve transit utilization. Oftentimes, those facility modifications can be done in coordination with roadway improvement projects. Since the adoption of the 1997 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and subsequent updates, there have been significant improvements in the quantity and quality of pedestrian and bicycle facilities throughout the County. The objective of the MPO's Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is to provide a continuous bicycle system, consisting of five-foot wide paved shoulders on both sides of all collector and arterial roads, where no major constraints exist, throughout the County. The plan also calls for a pedestrian system along major roads, ideally a five-foot wide sidewalk on each side of major roadways, in addition to off road pedestrian facilities. The County's comprehensive plan policies and the land development regulations, and the MPO's implementation of the Bicycle Pedestrian Plan, have resulted in a significant increase in the number of new sidewalks and bicycle lanes throughout the county. Even with those significant improvements, the bicycle and pedestrian Levels of Service (LOS) have declined in many cases. Factors impacting the decline include the increase in traffic volumes and travel speeds, the increase in heavy vehicles, intersection geometry, lack of dedicated crossings and the increase in crashes. Between 1998 and 2012, the percentage of the roadway network with a bicycle level of set -vice of "E" or "F" increased from four percent to 12 percent. During the same period, the pedestrian LOS of `B" or "F" increased from 20 percent to 36 percent. In addition to the general availability of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and improved connections to transit, the presence of passenger amenities such as bus shelters and benches are important to existing and potential transit customers. According to the 2008 statewide publication, "Accessing Transit — Design Handbook for Florida Bus Passenger Facilities", a transit agency's goal should be to provide all transit patrons, of all ages and abilities, with comfortable equipment and facilities that provide shelter from the sun, rain, and other elements. GoLine has sheltered waiting locations at Pocahontas Park and the Gifford Community Center, and informal arrangements for joint use of covered spaces at some of its major transfer locations, such as the Indian River Mall. In recent years, shelters have been constructed at approximately 30 bus stops throughout the County. While additional shelters will be constructed in the future, a majority of the stops lack shelters and basic passenger amenities. The presence of bus stop sign and shelters was one of the main service characteristics identified as in need of improvement by the 2012 GoLine on -board survey respondents and the 2013 public workshop participants. 5-12 - - StaAteS+[omultants my i