Creating a Bikeable Community

Transportation planning is one of my true passions, and it is what I have been working tirelessly on in Columbus for the past 7 years. This YouTube video portrays exactly why! Just as Pucher et al. (136) writes related to creating a boom in bicycling in America, “…the likely scenario is slow, painstaking progress…” Increasing alternative transportation is extremely difficult, but rewarding at the very same time.  In light of our readings this week (Transportation Planning and Traffic Management (Roseland) and Bicycling Renaissance in North America? (Pucher et al.)), I felt it would be useful to highlight the many things we are doing in Columbus in an effort to increase alternative modes of transportation.  Admittedly, we have not produced a “bicycling boom.”  However, we have experienced a noticeable growth in bicycle-use throughout the city.

Current Bicycle Use:  According to the 2000, U.S. Census, there is a total of 18,671 workers over the age of 16 in Columbus.  Of those workers, 300 (1.6%) walked and 238 (1.3%) used other means, including bicycling, to travel to and from their places of employment. This is in line with the national average of only about 1% (Pucher et al. 131).  Hopefully, the 2010 U.S. Census statistics show an increase in this number.

Climate:  As Pucher et al. (133) states, climate impacts cycling levels.  However, I would argue this point.  Take a look at the map.  One of the best-known bicycling countries is the Netherlands, and their climate is worse than Indiana.  Therefore, I would argue that this should not be a factor in the discussion.  Also, Columbus is relatively flat.  Bicycling as a mode of transportation is extremely feasible.  So, what have we been doing to shift our culture towards bicycling as a viable mode of travel?

Make all roads bikeable:

Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan:  In 2010, the City of Columbus adopted a Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan.  This plan acts as the single most important milestone for increasing biking and walking in Columbus and brings forth the importance of bicycle and pedestrian issues in the City.  The goals of the plan are to:

• expand the transportation options available in the community,
• increase opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians to safely and efficiently commute and recreate by connecting parks, schools, shopping areas, employment centers, and other key destinations,
• distinguish Columbus as an active community with high quality lifestyle accommodations attractive to new residents and businesses,
• improve the community’s health and wellness,
• provide opportunities for tourism,
• establish regional bicycle connections, and
• provide environmentally‐friendly, sustainable transportation options that can improve the natural environment and serve to preserve natural areas 

Thoroughfare Plan:  In 2010, the City of Columbus also adopted a new Thoroughfare Plan.  The plan has been identified as one of the four local Complete Streets policies in Indiana.  The Thoroughfare Plan ensures the streets are designed and operated to ensure safe access for all users (bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists, transit users, and users of all ages and abilities). 

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Comprehensive Plan: In 2011 the City of Columbus began work on a SRTS planning project involving 9 area elementary and middle schools.  The effort is ongoing and is being led by the community’s SRTS committee - a partnership of local government, the local school corporation and the Healthy Communities Initiative.  This planning project focuses on the improvement of the 5 Es- evaluation, engineering, education, encouragement and enforcement in an effort to increase the number of children walking and biking to school. The SRTS Comprehensive Plan will be completed before the end of 2011.

Columbus Vision 2020:  Adopted in 2009, Vision 2020 is a strategic development plan for development in downtown Columbus.  The plan focuses on amateur sports and recreation, learning and culture, dining and entertainment, living, and shopping in an effort to reinvigorate the downtown and improve the quality of life for residents of Columbus.  Creating a dense area in the heart of Columbus provides a destination within a short bike ride of many of the local residents.

Expand bicycle facilities:

Bicycle Infrastructure: Spurred by the adoption of the various policies in Columbus, within the past 3 years there has been a spike in bicycle Infrastructure projects around the City.  Some of the projects include the installation of the City’s first bike lanes, the completion of the 2.2-mile Owen’s Bend Trail, the painting of bike lanes on excessively wide streets, the addition of new sidepaths to form important connections throughout the City, the creation of safe crossings and intersections, as well as others.  Improvement of the transportation infrastructure to include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations is critical to increasing the number of bicyclists and pedestrians in the community.

Bicycle Parking: In 2009, we began installing custom “C” bike racks as way to increase bike parking throughout the City.  To date we have installed nearly 200 “C” bike racks as well as many other standard bike racks throughout Bartholomew County.  Bike parking spaces are now required with new or renovated development as part of zoning ordinance for the City.  For 2-bike parking units are required for 26-250 vehicle parking spaces required and 4-bike parking spaces are required for vehicle parking spaces over 250.

Link cycling to wellness:

Obesity Prevention:  My grant funded position as the Community Initiatives Lead for Reach Healthy Communities is directly related to the concept of linking cycling to wellness.  Reach is a two-year obesity prevention initiative in Bartholomew County funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant. Increasing active transportation in the county is one way we hope to reduce the obesity epidemic.  Focusing on bicycling as an alternative mode of transportation allows us to integrate routine physical activity into people’s travel to work and to school as well as routine errands around the community.

Hold special promotions:

Columbus by Bike Map:  Historically, Columbus has focused on the People Trail systems as the main transportation network related to walking and biking. This is not adequate when trying to increase alternative modes of travel.  It is important to recognize that each street is a system of inter-related components serving a wide variety of users.  In order to get from one place to another, residents need to understand how to get around and what routes are most ideal for bicycle use.  Therefore, we are developing a “Columbus by Bike” Map highlighting the existing bicycle infrastructure as well as streets to use and streets to avoid when commuting around the city.  The map will be completed in 2011.

Columbus Bike Co-op:  Founded in 2008, the Bike Co-op exists to provide a space for community members to learn about and maintain their bicycles.  Classes, tools, parts, bikes, and workspaces are available for free or a very low cost.  Bike aficionados with knowledge of bike mechanics, safety, skills and routes are there to help during open hours.  The Earn-a-Bike program sponsored by the Co-op is a work-trade program from anyone in the community who wants to bike on their own.  Participants pick out a bike, learn how to refurbish, repair, maintain and customize it to make it their own.  After completing a set amount of volunteer hours, the participant received the bike for free!

Commit to Commute Program: Participants set their own goal for how many miles they thought they would ride between May 1 and October 31 and then logged their miles at Green Light Ride. We provided monthly drawings for prizes to anyone that logged their miles that month, and final prizes will be awarded for most miles and most trips. So far, 65 participants have logged approximately 14,000 miles.  This is extremely impressive when you think Roseland (120) boasted that, “Thurston County, Washington State Bicycle Commuter Contest, in 1999 had 574 participants ride a total of nearly 15,000 miles.”  We blew them out of the water!  The data from the challenge will be used to help with our advocacy.  A Winter Challenge is beginning on November 1 and running until the end of March.

Bike-In Movie:  Partnering with our local movie theater, YES Cinema, we will be hosting our first bike-in movie on November 5^th.  Anyone that bikes to the event and has their helmet with them can attend the showing of “Breaking Away” for free!

Bike to Work Week: As an element of Bike to Work Week, for the past 6 years Columbus residents have been riding to work with the Mayor.  Often, all it takes is one time to discover the ease and enjoyment related to riding your bike to work or school.  This event encourages people to experience the morning commute through new eyes!

Architecture Tour by Bike:  We are partnering with our local Visitors Center and bicycle shops to develop an architecture tour by bike.  The route will target local residents and visitors that would like to experience the architecture in Columbus by bicycle rather than tour bus.  We will be piloting our first tour this spring.

Bike Share Program at IUPUC: A meeting is schedule for next week to begin exploring the options for a bike share program at our local university, IUPUC (Indiana University-Purdue University-Columbus).  The bike share program will provide free or affordable access to bicycles for students to allow for an alternative mode of travel and exercise, which will increase the health of the student population as well as reduce traffic congestion, noise, and air pollution.

Clarify cyclists’ rights:

Safety Programs:  The Reach Healthy Communities grant has allowed us to offer free helmets and bike lights to many residents of the community.  We have also partnered with the local safe routes to schools committee and Boy Scout troops to host multiple bike rodeos and the local bike co-op to host educational classes that range from bike repairs to tips for winter bicycling.

Bike Lane Educational Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfPUj3ExpiA In 2011, Columbus striped the first bike lanes on 17^th Street.  As an effort to educate bicyclists and motorists about the bike lanes, we produced a video.  This video has been distributed to various locations around the community such as the schools, driver’s education centers, bus stations, and bike co-op.  It has also been posted on the webpage of the City of Columbus, Reach Healthy Communities, the Republic (our local newspaper), the Visitors Center, and YouTube.

Broaden and intensify political action:

Bicycle Friendly Community Application:  Columbus is working on an application to become a Bicycle Friendly Community.  The League of American Bicyclists created the Bicycle Friendly Community (http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/) designations as a way to inspire communities to improve conditions and opportunities for bicycling by providing well-engineered bicycle facilities, creating new places to ride, educating motorists and cyclists on the rules of the road, and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation. The program focuses on 5 E’s: engineering, education, enforcement, and evaluation and planning.  Currently, only 5 cities in Indiana have received this designation:  Bloomington (silver) and Carmel, Indianapolis, South Bend (bronze) and Goshen (bronze).  Our hope is the prospect of becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community will broaden and intensify political action.

In Conclusion:

We have come a long way the last few years!  But, there are still some distinct areas where we need improvement such as incentivizing bicycle commuting and increasing the cost of automobile use and parking, bicyclist and motorist educational programs, linking the bus transportation system with bicycle and pedestrian commuter routes, as well as others.  And, so the “slow, painstaking progress” will continue.  Truth be told, I love the progress and have the best job in the world!!!