Bicycle Touring Infrastructure: An Architectural Proposal for Sustainable Bicycle Tourism

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

America has had a century long obsession with automobiles. The United States has become synonymous with car travel and road trips. But climate change challenges us to rethink these relationships and consider alternative modes of travel and transit. Known as the place for innovation and reinvention, the time is ripe for the US to reinvent its identity as the destination for environmentally savvy 21st century travelers. Using the bicycle as a platform for driving eco-tourism, this project proposes an infrastructure to support bicycle tourism. The project examines Washington State as a potential case study for bicycle tourism and proposes to build onto existing infrastructure to drive rural economic development. The project looks into the the physical demands of cyclists as well as the cyclist’s needs while traveling long distances. Through research about bicycle history, geography, nutrition, and economics, the project offers insight into bike touring and bicycle tourism. Many interviews were conducted to depict varying perspectives of bicycle tourism from individual cyclists to bicycle advocacy. Based on the research conducted, the project proposed shelters at regular intervals to offer services for cyclists traveling along specific bicycle routes within Washington State. These shelters allow cyclists to travel safely through the region with peace of mind that services are available and they have a safe place to stay every night. Further, the project proposes to create an identity for safe travel within the region as well as to create an international draw for visitors to experience America by bicycle. The project conclusion offers further research opportunities, next steps for deployment as well as general project observations. Additionally, it summarizes many of the important points to success within the project.