Having fun and attractive helmet options could help voluntary helmet use among yourself and your family.
Here are several alternatives to the standard recreational helmet design which may not be available in your local bike shop.
For less than $1,000, Oak Cliff performed a make-over of a city block, making it more walkable, bikable, enjoyable and prosperous. Here’s a “before” shot:
See the video for the result of the final transformation, complete with temporary businesses like a cafe, flower market, kid’s art studio and live music.
Visit the Streetsblog.net post for more information on this DIY street makeover.
Is this an event that could work in your town?
I’ve recently written about why INDOT should revise the plan for US 27. to follow Complete Streets principles.
I recently found another reason why INDOT should do this— because it would follows their own policy on Context Sensitive Solutions.
Ashley Hungate, an INDOT spokeswoman was quoted on a topic in a recent article by AARP, covering improvements needed elsewhere in the state to make Westfield, Indiana more bikeable, walking and livable. Here’s the quote:
INDOT strives to design its roadways for all users through its Context Sensitive Solutions policy, Hungate said. It uses community input to strike a balance between providing safe, cost-effective highways and protecting local values. “If we’re doing a project in a community, and they express opinions on what’s important to them, we try to accommodate them when appropriate and feasible,” Hungate said.
And “expressing opinions” is exactly what’s recently happened in Richmond. The City asked for a plan based on Complete Streets and over 100 people petitioned support for it.
I looked up the Context Sensitive Solutions program and found that “making streets more bikeable is often a goal of CSS projects”. CSS is also used to implement bike and pedestrian bridges like the Freeman Park / Oak Drive Connector which would truly be an improved and viable alternative to US 27 for non-motorized traffic.
With so many reasons to support Complete Streets in Richmond, I hope INDOT will respond soon to let us know that they will be following the new federal transportation policy as well as their own policies regarding accomodations for walking and biking.
