It’s as Easy as Riding a Bike! Building Communities Focused on Moving and Connecting People
May is Bike Month
and, as we conclude this year’s celebration, you should know this is
actually much more than a “Hallmark” designation. You might wonder why
biking is being discussed on an economic development blog, so I’d like
to offer some thoughts on the benefits of biking within a community.
Transportation is an integral, yet sometimes underappreciated element in building great, innovative cities. Books like Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns,
by Victor Dover, are elevating the discussion on the importance of
streets. Basic transportation infrastructure helps people move safely
and connect with businesses, and can ensure that the entire community
thrives.
However, as Fred Kent of Project for Public Spaces
states, “If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and
traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places.”
Our roadways, which make up 30 to 40 percent of our community, are
public spaces where people gather, connect, and move, but they should be
utilized for much more than just moving vehicles. Designing our
streets with a “cars-only” mentality leaves a gap between how we move
and how we actually live.
So what do the solutions in the 21st
century community look like? The menu is vast and includes everything
from building trails, bike lanes, and slower streets, to bike racks and
corrals, and wider sidewalks with patios, parklets, and curb cafes.
These are the types of features that attract people because of the
welcoming, safe, and inviting environment they create. In fact,
CNNMoney.com recently proclaimed “for entrepreneurs, cycling is the new golf“. And we’re making progress.
With
a higher concentration of entrepreneurs than anywhere else in the
nation, Silicon Valley is sure to be on the cutting edge of such
trends. Looking at Fremont, we know this better than most, ranking #1
in the country for the number of startups per capita.
Our increased focus on bicycle infrastructure is timely and will help
create a community that aligns with the values that our workforce and
residents desire.Our goal is to create a connected and sustainable
community, both physically and socially. And biking is part of the
solution to achieve that goal.
Rethinking
transportation is
necessary to create truly sustainable communities. Mixed-use and high
density development is much more successful if you don’t have to get
into a car for every trip to work, the grocery store, or a restaurant.
Fremont is positioning itself as a national model on how an
auto-oriented suburb can evolve into a sustainable, strategically urban, modern city that connects people through transportation. We’re taking cues from experts like April Economides, known for “Bicycle Friendly Business Districts” and supporting her proclamation that “Biking Means Business.” And we mean business too.
For more information on the benefits of biking for local businesses, check out these resources:
http://bikeleague.org/content/businesses
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/04/30/ten-ways-make-your-business-bike-friendly
