Community Building Tip: Park and Pedal

[ysabetwordsmith]

For my current set of tips, I'm using the list "101 Small Ways You Can Improve Your City.

55. Organize a park-and-pedal. David Montague, the owner of a Boston company that makes foldable bicycles, wanted to encourage cycling in an area where many faced long commutes, and hit upon an ingenious hybrid solution: Organize a cycling-based version of the park and ride systems utilized by city commuters. His Park&Pedal system, which utilizes existing parking lots and trails to encourages people to split their commute between biking and driving, now includes 19 lots around the Boston area.

Hybrid transit in general is a powerful tool for expanding access and reducing pollution.  Use extant resources as a starting point for upgrades.  Remember, 1 car parking space = 10 bike parking spaces.

To make this kind of option accessible for more people, I suggest adding a pedicab service, shuttles, or other resources for people with disabilities.  Also check the places they go, which are sometimes different than where abled people go, and see whether those connect with the park and pedal setup.

Comments

[erulisse]

Cool idea! This type of thing also helps ease the first/last mile issues sometimes seen with public transit.

[pronker]

Thanks for putting that issue into a term! 'First/last mile' tramping can absolutely suck.

You're welcome!

[ysabetwordsmith]

It's not just bicycling that we need to enable, though -- it's all the human-powered and small-electric options. Skateboards, rollerskates, scooters, etc. They all save space and reduce emissions, and the HPVs promote exercise. If you add ADA golf carts, a wheelchair user can shift from their huge van to a much smaller short-range vehicle.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I feel that all public transit hubs should have parking for a wide range of vehicles. Shower and change facilities would be a useful addition. The same applies to workplaces with large employee pools.