Active Transportation
Active Transportation refers to human-powered ways of getting around, mainly walking and cycling. Transportation planners use this term when designing cities and communities that encourage people to walk, bike, or use other non-motorized ways to travel. It's like creating a network of sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails that connect where people live to where they need to go. This approach helps create healthier communities, reduce traffic, and protect the environment. You might also see this called "non-motorized transportation," "human-powered transportation," or "sustainable mobility."
Examples in Resumes
Developed Active Transportation plans for three major city corridors, resulting in 30% increase in bicycle commuting
Led community engagement sessions for Active Transportation and Non-Motorized Transportation infrastructure improvements
Managed $2M budget for Active Transportation and Sustainable Mobility projects including bike lanes and pedestrian crossings
Typical job title: "Active Transportation Planners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Active Transportation Planners
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you approach developing a citywide Active Transportation plan?
Expected Answer: A senior planner should discuss stakeholder engagement, data collection methods, coordination with different city departments, budget considerations, and implementation strategies. They should mention experience with similar projects and how to overcome common challenges.
Q: How do you measure the success of Active Transportation initiatives?
Expected Answer: Should describe various metrics like user counts, safety statistics, community feedback, and economic impacts. Should also mention experience with before/after studies and long-term monitoring programs.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors do you consider when planning a new bike lane network?
Expected Answer: Should discuss traffic patterns, connection points, safety considerations, community needs, and integration with existing infrastructure. Should show understanding of basic design standards and community engagement.
Q: How do you balance the needs of different transportation users in a corridor?
Expected Answer: Should explain approaches to analyzing competing needs, community engagement processes, and examples of successful compromises between different user groups (drivers, cyclists, pedestrians).
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic components of an Active Transportation network?
Expected Answer: Should be able to list and describe basic infrastructure like sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, and trails, and explain how they work together as a system.
Q: Why is Active Transportation important for communities?
Expected Answer: Should discuss benefits like health, environmental impact, reduced traffic congestion, and improved quality of life. Basic understanding of how active transportation fits into broader planning goals.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of transportation planning principles
- Familiarity with mapping and data collection
- Knowledge of standard design guidelines
- Basic project coordination
Mid (2-5 years)
- Project management of medium-sized initiatives
- Community engagement facilitation
- Grant writing and budget management
- Design review and recommendations
Senior (5+ years)
- Large-scale transportation plan development
- Policy development and implementation
- Multi-stakeholder project leadership
- Program evaluation and optimization
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic transportation planning principles
- Lack of experience with public engagement
- No understanding of accessibility requirements
- Unable to read or interpret transportation plans and maps
