What changed?

Remember the report by The Network (a group of young professionals attached to the Chamber of Commerce) about how to attract and retain young professionals? Here again were the top four results:

• Expand trails and bike routes for recreation and transportation.
• Enact a smoking ban in bars, restaurants and other public places.
• Improve wages by supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.
• Address the lack of diversity through increased awareness and support for minority-owned businesses.

Wow. We got top billing. Fantastic.

I believe the city is taking these things seriously. That’s great!

But “trails and bike routes” has apparently been translated into “bicycle lanes.” That’s not necessarily surprising. That term is, as much as anything, a metaphor for “facilities” in the minds regular folks. “Facilities” can be all kinds of helpful and progressive things.

I am not a fan of bicycle lanes in general (click here). So if you ask me if I like bicycle lanes or want to see them painted in Springfield, I’ll tell you “no.” This does not mean all lanes are bad or that I am against all facilities. It means, specifically, that I worry that some lane advocates (not necessarily our bicycle advocates) will promote poor facilities and may push for a law requiring lane use once lanes are painted (thus making bicycling suck for experienced traffic bicyclists).

I think the foundation of a good bicycle system begins with a good transportation system for all road users — one that is equitable for all users. All users should be educated in how to use the road safely and how to share it with a wide range of other users who all have equal rights and responsibilities (and equal expectations of courtesy and civility). Shared use ought to be an ethic promoted and enforced by all users.

Bicycle facilities should not reduce the bicyclist’s level of service, i.e. make it more difficult to get from point A to point B safely and efficiently or to deny access to roads. Facilities should not create traffic conflicts by encouraging bicyclists to ride in places or in ways that put them in danger. And facilities should not contradict the law or sound traffic education, e.g. creating a lane that runs against traffic. Finally, if you create facilities then I believe you (the city) are obligated to maintain them, which means keeping them cleared of debris, snow, and ice.

Progressive facilities should empower people to make the choice to ride a bicycle for transportation by making it efficient and enjoyable, i.e. easy access to destinations and no manufactured conflicts with motorists. Separation is fine as long as it does not create inferiority for the bicyclist compared to other forms of transportation.

The differences between these kinds of facilities are easy to see. Compare, for example, our greenway trails (progressive) to the new bicycle lane on Benton (regressive). (Note: That was an example. I do not mean to suggest that separated greenways are the only form of progressive facility.)

Since Springfield is moving ahead with “bicycle lanes,” I am going to seek out and publish examples of progressive facilities. And I will support such facilities, even when they involve painting lines on the street.

I will also, however, squawk like crazy if we build lanes that create conflicts or put novices in danger. I am unwilling to increase participation at the cost of safety when our roads are already safe.

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle culture, bicycle education, bicycle infrastructure, bicycle politics, bicycle safety, bicycle trails, cycling, Transportation Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, urban design, Urban Planning, utility cycling

GetAbout Columbia is the city program primarily responsible for the infrastructure. From its website:

In 2006, Columbia, Missouri was selected as one of four communities in the nation to participate in the Federal Highway Administration’s Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot program.

Columbia’s designation as a pilot city came with $22 million in federal funds over a four-year period to help build infrastructure and establish national standards for public awareness and willingness to use active modes of transportation.

A federally commissioned study conducted between September 2006 and January 2007 indicates 88 percent of Columbia residents primarily make trips by auto. An additional 8.6 percent walk as a primary means of transportation and 1.5 percent ride bicycles. For more study information visit the Federal Highway Administration’s website.

The PedNet Coalition is the organization primarily responsible for programming to educate and encourage. PedNet has done much in its 11-year history to increase bicycle and pedestrian participation. Our STAR Team members left Columbia with many interesting ideas. I will post more extensive information about this organization soon.

I was less impressed with the on-road facilities. Just the condition of Columbia’s streets is a bit shocking. And I found several dangerous, wheel-eating storm drains — something that should have been corrected long ago (two highlighted on the video). Take a look. See what you think.

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle culture, bicycle infrastructure, bicycle politics, bicycle safety, bicycle trails, complete streets, cycling, traffic design, Transportation Planning

Yesterday, I rode the link and made the following video (a city video crew also came along):

I’ll offer feedback here soon. But for now, enjoy the ride (and my two navigating errors).

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle infrastructure, bicycle trails, bicycle video, cycling, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning

Here are the first few paragraphs:

Expanding local trails, banning public smoking and confronting the city’s lack of diversity are ways for Springfield to attract and retain young professionals, according to a presentation Tuesday to City Council.

The suggestions came as part of a report from The Network, a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce group for workers age 21-40.

Following up on a 2009 consultant’s report ranking Springfield in categories important to a young, educated workforce, a Network task force developed ideas for improvement.

“We came up with four things we think are really do-able initiatives,” said Ryan DeBoef, a local attorney who chaired the task force.

The first suggestion, he said, was the continued expansion of city trails and bicycle routes for recreation and transportation.

“Trails are parks to young people,” DeBoef said. “People love these trails and it would be great if we could use them to get somewhere.”

DeBoef said the group found that many young professionals want to be able to bike to work, but existing trails and urban bike routes are insufficient.

Seems like a no-brainer. If you want to attract (or keep) talented young professionals, then it’s a good idea to create a living (urban) environment that meets exactly the needs listed in this article. As listed today in Editor David Stoeffler’s column:

• Expand trails and bike routes for recreation and transportation.
• Enact a smoking ban in bars, restaurants and other public places.
• Improve wages by supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.
• Address the lack of diversity through increased awareness and support for minority-owned businesses.

This is what the young professional themselves say they want as articulated by The Network. Perhaps we should listen.

Reading the 165 comments, however, is a bit disheartening.

Our Urban Challenge Series:

• First in a Series
• Getting Started
• Green Density
• Networks
• Barriers
• Free Parking
• The Good Life
• Cost of Living
• Build It First
• Make It Awesome
• The Euro Thing
• Middle of Nowhere

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle commuting, bicycle culture, bicycle infrastructure, bicycle trails, cycling, urban design, urban development, Urban Planning

• The work associated with a Safe Routes to School grant to develop curriculum for four elementary schools has been delayed because the selected company that produces the curriculum has closed. Construction has begun on three miles of school sidewalks.
• Several streetscape projects downtown have been completed — especially on Walnut between Kimbrough and Jefferson.
• Completed: South Dry Sac Greenway Phase II includes 26-car trailhead parking at Lost Hill Park and 2,647 linear feet of trail construction from Lost Hill Park to Truman School. Permission has been granted to use Truman School parking for trail access. Directional signs will be installed this winter.
• Completed: Frisco Highline Trail paving — 5.2 miles from Willard to Springfield (Kearney Trailhead). Mile markers have been installed north of Willard. And 1/10 mile markers have been installed south of Willard on the new surface for user reference and emergency location.

Technorati Tags: bicycle trails, cycling, pedestrian safety