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The Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN) does research studies into policies and best practices in areas like encouraging more students to walk and bicycle to school, developing community trails, and creating community bicycle plans. What really works and what is most effective? That is what PAPRN's studies will help you decide.

Enjoy the Ride video - bicycling tips for adults from the League of American Bicyclists. This is one of the best videos summarizing how to safely bicycle.

Trails, Lanes, or Traffic: The Value of Different Bicycle Facilities Using an Adaptive Stated
Preference Survey - how much are different bicycle facilities worth? This paper puts a dollar value on them, showing that they are worth far more than they cost.

The Economic Bene????its of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments - a great summary of available research from the League of American Bicyclists

Litman, Todd, “Quantifying the Benefits of Nonmotorized Transportation for Achieving Mobility Management Objectives” Victoria Transport Policy Institute, November 30, 2004. Puts hard numbers to the value of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. $2.73/mile in pollution, health, energy, congestion, safety benefits and others.

Detection of Bicycles by Quadrupole Loops at Demand-Actuated Traffic Signals - an engineer's perspective on how traffic signal actuators work and how to make them work better for bicyclists.

Making the case for bicycle facilities and trails--health, economic, & social benefits quantified.

Walking, Cycling, and Obesity Rates in Europe, North America, and Australia - Walking and bicycling are far more common in European countries than in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Active transportation is inversely related to obesity in these countries. Although the results do not prove causality, they suggest that active transportation could be one of the factors that explain international differences in obesity rates.

Making Transportation Sustainable: Insights from Germany (PDF file) has many interesting insights and comparisons between the U.S. & Germany: "Increasing transportation sustainability in the United States requires policies that foster changes in travel behavior. Germany’s case may provide a helpful example. Although car use has grown in both countries, Germany has been far more successful than the United States in creating a more balanced transportation system."

Win-Win Transportation Solutions (Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2008 [PDF file]) are cost-effective, technically feasible market reforms that help solve transportation problems by increasing consumer options and removing market distortions that encourage inefficient travel behavior. They provide multiple economic, social and environmental benefits. They are “no regrets” measures that are justified regardless of uncertainties about global warming or other environmental and social impacts. Because they provide multiple benefits they offer opportunities for cooperation and coordination among various organizations and political interests.