The Evolving Bicycle Ecosystem Around Suburban Communities

SPIN 2015: More Than Just A Bike

TROYER GROUP | www.troyergroup.com | Together, We Will#togetherwewill #spIN2015

PROMOTE . EDUCATE . ADVOCATE

The Evolving Bicycle

Ecosystem Around Suburban

Communities




Troyer GroupTransportation and Landscape Architecture

in collaboration with

Friends of Granger Paths

2015 Indiana Bike Summit:

The Evolving Bicycle Ecosystem Around

Suburban CommunitiesIndianapolis, Indiana

Spring 2015




AGENDA OBJECTIVES

1. Discuss the systemic relationship of trail

networks to the health of bedroom

communities

2. Learn performance indicators that

demonstrate value and viability

3. Explore tactics to increasing funding for trail

networks

4. Develop fluency in active living by design

strategies including: awareness, advocacy,

and activism




ANALYSIS : A Brief History of the Suburbs




INTRODUCTION

A Brief History of the

Suburban Landscape1. Impacts on

Community/Urban

Design1. Function

2. Health

2. Contemporary Needs

of Subdivisions1. Human Centered

Design

2. Opportunities for

Activity




INTRO: A Brief History of the Suburbs




INTRO : A Brief History of the Suburbs




INTRO : A Brief History of the Suburbs

“The ‘Burbs”1. Impacts on

Community/Urban

Design1. Function

2. Health



Design


Activity




DESIGN FOR ACTIVE LIVING

“The ‘Burbs”1. Impacts on

Community/Urban

Design1. Function

2. Health



Design


Activity




DESIGN FOR ACTIVE LIVING

KEY OBSERVATIONS1. Pedestrian Oriented

1. Increasing

Opportunities for active

recreation

2. Scale

2. Connecting People to

Place1. Visually

2. Physically

3. Changing the Metrics1. Economics

2. More than just how far

3. Coverage

4. Spurring growing




BUILDING THE NARRATIVE





KEY OBSERVATIONS1. Awareness

1. Inform: Discovering

bikeways and

introducing people to

projects

2. Engage and increase

exposure

3. Energize: Continued

involvement and

forward progress

2. Case Study: Adams

Trail – Granger, IN.




Summer 2004: Group

inspired by Councilman

Dale Devon meetings with

public

• 7 of 15 residents at

meeting want sidewalk

connections to schools and

library for children

7 Residents ask

Councilman Devon to ask

to build sidewalk

improvements for

community.

• St. Joseph County does

not have regulations

requiring sidewalks and

parks in developments

• For government support

community must show:

– Interest from public

– Real need

CASE STUDY: Adams Trail




September 2004: First

public meeting

• 89 public meetings held

since

• Early meetings focused

on meeting public

officials and learning

guidelines

– County

– State

– Federal





February 2005: Survey /

Questionnaire for

Community interest in

multi-use paths

• Presented by

committee at local

businesses, library and

Home Owners

Associations

• Received

approximately 200

responses in two week

period

– 2% No

– 4% Not

Sure

– 94% Yes





May 2005: Began work on Path Master Plan

• Worked with Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning

– Meet with government agencies

– Meet with Granger residents

– Reviewed FGP Survey/Questionnaire

– Conducted land survey

August 2005: Ball State’s Master Plan presented





2005 FGP website

• Vision Statement

• Path Master Plan

• Contact information

Initial Transportation

Enhancement (TE)

Grant application

• Developed

relationships with

government agencies

– St. Joseph County

Engineering

– Michiana Area

Council of

Governments

(MACOG)

• Highly competitive

– Applied 5 times





May 2006: 1st Granger Paths 5k Run/Walk

• Staged at Harris Township Library

• Over 200 participants

• Grown to over 800 participant in 2014

• Has become an annual event

• Information presented

– FGP’s vision

– Master Plan

– Petition, to be included in County’s Master Transportation Plan





2008: Initial Safe

Routes to School

(SRTS) Grant

Application

Raised $45,000 prior to

receiving any grant

money

December 2009:

Awarded Federal TE

funding

2008: Initial Safe

Routes to School

(SRTS) Grant

ApplicationCASE STUDY: Adams Trail




December 2009: Awarded Federal TE funding

May 2010:

• Kicked off Capital Campaign “Get Up & Go”

• Contracted with The Troyer Group (TTG)

– Design and coordinate development of Adams Trail Phase 1A

October 2010: Awarded Federal Safe Routes (SRTS) to School funding





16 news articles since 2005 in:• Granger Gazette

• South Bend Tribune

• Inside Granger

• Local television stations

Community outreach:

• Presented plan at

– Home Owner Association Meetings

– Parent Teacher Organizations

– Knollwood Health Fairs

– University Park Mall Health and Fitness Fair

– Bike to Work Week

– Bike Michiana Hospice Ride





700 members on e-mail distribution list

Phase 1 Financial contributions of $150,000

– 145 businesses

– 8 foundations

– Local residents

– Children at Mary Frank Elementary School ($800)

– Children at NorthpointElemenary School ($800)






KEY OBSERVATIONS1. Advocacy

1. Interacting with

policymakers – from

each level of

government

2. “Make Me Care”:

Raising the profile

3. Energize: Continued

involvement and

forward progress

2. Case Study: LaSalle

Trail, South Bend, Indiana





KEY OBSERVATIONS1. Entrepreneurial

Activism1. How does benefitting

others ultimately

benefit us?

2. Difficult to fund trails

where there is a high

need





KEY OBSERVATIONS1. Fund Raising

1. Surviving as volunteer

efforts

2. The hardships of

maintaining that effort




SUMMARY

MOVING FORWARD1. The Engaged Designer

1. The job is not over after

design

2. Spearheading planning

and funding

3. The hardships of

maintaining that effort

2. Integrated,

Collaborative, Diverse

Teams1. Value beyond bike

enthusiasts

2. Common missions




SUMMARY

The Evolving Bicycle Ecosystem Around Suburban Communities

Design

Transcript of The Evolving Bicycle Ecosystem Around Suburban Communities