I’ve been lucky to have some great bike commutes over the years. In college, my ride took me from downtown Santa Cruz up to UCSC along a bike path through the Great Meadow. In DC, I took a route through Arlington Cemetery, across the Potomac and on pathways past the Lincoln Memorial and reflecting pool. In San Francisco, I joined the stream of cyclists heading downtown on Valencia and Market Streets. My current route in Oakland-Berkeley is almost entirely on Bicycle Boulevards that carry more bikes than cars. In each case I have never considered any other means of travel – bicycling is the easiest, cheapest, fastest, and least stressful way to get around. I became a transportation planner in large part because of my experiences cycling, with the goal of improving our transportation networks so that everybody would feel as comfortable out on their bike as I do. I feel fortunate to have a job where I can help communities all over the country to create great bike commutes for their residents.
Brett Hondorp has over 10 years of non-motorized transportation and environmental planning experience. In addition to his work developing dozens of bicycle, pedestrian, and trail plans and feasibility studies, Brett is a leading national Safe Routes to School (SR2S) expert. He has worked on a wide range of SR2S projects from coast to coast, including leading walking audits, developing engineering improvement plans, preparing grant applications, creating walking route maps, and managing strategic SR2S funding and implementation programs. As a Safe Routes to School National Course instructor, Brett has taught numerous SR2S trainings attended by local agency staff, advocates, and community leaders. Brett is an avid bicycle commuter and a competitive road, mountain, and cyclocross racer who helps manage a prominent Bay Area cycling team.
Recent Projects
- Menlo Park Bicycle Development Plan
Brett recently managed preparation of a Bicycle Development Plan for the City of Menlo Park. The plan was completed within a tight (approximately 7 month) schedule in order to meet required funding deadlines. The plan involved extensive coordination with a technical advisory committee, three citywide public meetings, and preparation of a bicyclist survey that was handed out during Bike to Work day and available online. A new citywide directional signage program was also recommended to emphasize key destinations along the network and increase awareness by motorists. As part of the Bike Plan project, Mr. Hondorp prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration to meet CEQA requirements.
- San Jose School Access Enhancement Program
Brett co-managed this study aimed at evaluating traffic, pedestrian, and bicyclist safety at 50 public and private elementary and middle schools in San Jose. Mr. Hondorp was the principal field investigator for Alta, conducting audits of 15 schools during the 2001-2002 school year to survey existing infrastructure (e.g. crosswalks and signage) and observe typical traffic, parking, and pedestrian and bicyclist circulation patterns. Following each audit, Mr. Hondorp prepared a report for each school that included specific recommendations for engineering, enforcement and educational improvements to be implemented by the City and/or school district.
- SR-89 Bikeway Study
Brett led a feasibility analysis for bikeway improvements along State Route 89 on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The study evaluated options for increasing bike access to recreational destinations along this narrow two-lane highway, which experiences heavy seasonal traffic volumes. Issues included the availability of ROW for shoulder widening, steep slopes and soil erosion, sensitive habitat and natural resources, and private property along the corridor. Alternatives to an on-road bikeway evaluated in the study included a Class I bike path, a bicycle shuttle bus, and a bicycle water ferry.
Professional Organizations
