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About the Bicycle |
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Why Plan for Bicyclists & Pedestrians?Encouraging Public Health, Safety and Civic Pride: A safe and comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian network has many community benefits. Sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and trails are an important part of the transportation network connecting schools, universities, parks, commercial hubs, residential areas, and major employment centers. A good network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities increase the safety and convenience of residents, shoppers, students, employees, and visitors. It also provides opportunities for daily exercise, enjoyment of the outdoors, and more interaction with neighbors. In these days of rising obesity levels among Americans, especially children, and diminishing civic spirit, cities that offer residents the opportunity to interact and move about in their daily lives by walking and cycling have a distinct advantage in encouraging public health, appreciation of community amenities, and a strong sense of community.
Building Economic Resources: From an economic perspective, bicycle and pedestrian facilities encourage tourism and recreation and increase customer traffic to nearby businesses. For example, a 1992 National Park Service study determined the average visitor to the St. Marks Trail spends $11.02 per day. With over 170,000 visitors annually, the trail provides significant economic benefits to Tallahassee-Leon County. Bicycle and pedestrian trails also contribute to the community’s outdoor recreation, uniqueness, and active lifestyle. These are key community amenities that make a difference to the "creative class" of skilled knowledge workers courted by high-technology businesses in Tallahassee-Leon County. "In the New Economy, the quality of a region's lifestyle has as much to do with its success as its business cost structure, taxes or physical location. Leading high tech regions also rate very highly in terms of quality-of-place with high levels of amenities and environmental quality. Techies are looking for a balance of economic opportunity and lifestyle in selecting a place to live and work. Specific characteristics they seek are:
.................................................................................................................... The
MPO, supported
by the Renaissance Planning Group consultant team, will
begin the process by working with community members to
develop a vision for a bicycle and pedestrian network
that will support key community priorities such as
safety, mobility, community development and
environmental preservation. The Mobility District
workshops PDF scheduled for April 12-16, 2003,
offer local residents an important opportunity to
participate in shaping the vision. During the spring and
summer of 2003, the team will inventory and evaluate
existing policies, programs and community conditions,
culminating in the development of an Issues and Options
report as well as Community Profiles for each of four
Mobility Districts around which the plan is
physically organized. Regional workshops to be held in
the fall of 2003 will offer residents an opportunity to
discuss these reports and start developing strategies
based on the information. Based on this community input,
the team will draft a system of bicycle and pedestrian
facilities, design guidelines for their enhancement, and
financial resources to fund the development and
maintenance of projects and programs. The draft Master
Plan recommendations will be ready for community review
at a public workshop and subsequent public hearing in
the spring of 2004. Engaging the CommunityPublic involvement
in the process begins long before the public hearing.
Community meetings, newsletters, the project web site,
MPO subcommittees, and a public hearing all offer
opportunities for the public to learn about the plan and
participate in its development. A Community Interest
Forum organized by the MPO will include representatives
of local colleges and universities, community-based
organizations, bicycle/pedestrian advocacy groups, the
disabled community, and other key stakeholders. The
Forum will meet six times throughout the planning
process to provide feedback and ideas to the planning
team. Public input also will include outreach to public
and private schools in the community to assess the
ability and safety of students to walk or bike to
school. Other groups important to the planning process
are students of the community’s universities, senior
citizens, and persons with disabilities. The plan’s
success depends on your involvement. We need to hear
from all voices to ensure the plan reflects our
community’s priorities. Please get involved in the
Master Plan by sending information and ideas to us via
email or letter, participating in a community meeting,
observing MPO and Community Interest Forum
presentations, or inviting a planning team member to
talk with your group. Join your friends and neighbors in
helping to make Tallahassee-Leon County a great place to
bike and walk! |
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