Archive
Calculating the miles…Part II: The cost of walking
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…Or, rather, the savings
Here are the trips left out of yesterday’s post…
First, the big hit…The two jet plane trips this year. One, completed back in March and another coming this May. In one aspect, reducing the miles I drive locally allowed me to more readily afford a plane ride, theoretically at least. It’s also interesting to point out, that these two trips flying were really a means to get to more walking opportunities.
Made for walking
Your 20-minute walk commute?
One way I’ve been able to reduce my motorized miles is that I’m able and willing to walk pretty much anywhere within a mile and half radius. That ability was a key factor for making the choice to live where I do. This happens to also be just under the 2-mile trip length of 40% of car trips in the United States (Bike League). I’m also able and willing to bike my fair share of trips within a more expanded radius. The bike radius on average is anything within 5 miles, but can expand to 15 or 20 given the right circumstance.
The estimates below don’t take into account two-wheeled joy rides up and down the peninsulas or walks in the woods. I tried to stick strictly to average weekly miles where I’m on a task above and beyond exercise.
External costs for biking and walking are 0.9¢ and 0.2¢, respectively (Whose Roads?-PDF)
Missing from this chart is the cost of shoes and a bicycle, so to be honest let me knock off $200 from my private savings, because over a 5-year period I’m sure I spend $30 annually on transportation shoes and another $170 on new bicycle gear. Still, that’s a nice $1,000 savings for simply choosing to walk and bike around my community.
Interesting to note that my estimated $398 cost of driving that I externalize, is more than off-set by my willingness and ability to walk or bike 1,770 miles. Those miles, if driven, would cost society $513 (29¢ a mile, see yesterday’s post for explanation), so I’m willing to call it even if you are….Now, what to do to off-set my carbon footprint (GHG) for flying?…Ideas?
To close, and since I’ve used his research on the costs so heavily, a quote from Todd Litman about reducing our miles driven:
A gallon of gas saved by reducing driving is worth an order of magnitude more in terms of consumer savings, community savings…in terms of economic development than that same gallon of gasoline used to get someone to drive a more fuel-efficient car.”
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Are you saving money because of reduced miles?
How are you doing it?
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Use the comment section below or through this page to send us a message, on any subject, anytime, anyhow. Comments will be sent to author and potentially used in future posts. Please highlight whether you’d like you’re name published with your comment.
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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are that of the author and do not represent the opinions of writers previously published here or any of the organizations, committees, commissions or other affiliation the authors may belong to, unless so stated.
Is your city’s sidewalk network half-full or half-empty?
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We’re getting there…but how far?
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I lean towards half (or more) empty, but every now-and-then I’m a bit more optimistic.
Traverse City’s Fair St. (More Walk Scoring here)
Monday ramble
Let’s acknowledge for a moment the fact that every car trip, even if assisted by a wheelchair, begins and ends with a walk. It is the most basic form of transportation and planning has typically downgraded its value, hence the situation above.
However, it isn’t simply the lack of a complete network of sidewalks that keeps us from seeing walking as a tangible transportation option. For one, we’re spread out and daily needs are often perceived out of reach by foot. Large lots, large parking lots, and segregated zoning contribute to this. We also have corridors that even with sidewalks are not comfortable places to find one’s self.
Biking could be an excellent option to fill the walking gaps in Traverse City, but there’s a long-way to go to fix some critical disconnects that would make it compelling enough for the “interested but concerned” to regularly choose a bike over a car. Transit has financial restraints to being a service that is there when you need it without a thought (it’s improving).
Optimistically, regardless of one’s outlook of the network’s capacity, an advantage Traverse City has is that we are a small, active town with people with a lot of desire to see something better than sidewalks to nowhere like above. We could increase walking by simply increasing the sidewalk coverage in the City at a faster pace than the current half-mile or so a year.
Traverse City’s Planning Commission is currently undertaking an Active Transportation Plan* to provide guidance and some umph to complete some of these capacity gaps.
Yesterday, I caught the following list of rules-of-thumb for a transportation plan the blog Stroad to Boulevard is covering:
- Modal choice is induced by the built environment; it is not an intrinsic personal trait.
- The best transportation plan is a land use plan.
- Make sure roads are roads, and streets are streets.
- Focus on intersections.
- Safer streets do not require expensive infrastructure.
- In transit, frequency is freedom.
- Think of cyclists as pedestrians with wheels.
Although these are for a comprehensive transportation plan, I think the rules follow for sub-plans like TC’s Active Transportation Plan. In particular, it makes loud and clear that it’s the built environment that largely drives how we get around.
What do you think? Any other principles to add?
If you have any insights to share concerning walking, biking, or connecting to transit, that you’d like the Active Transportation Committee to aware of, please email the City Planner at “Russell A. Soyring” <RSoyring@traversecitymi.gov>. There will also be public presentations and interviews in the summer.
* In other communities, these are sometimes called a non-motorized plan. I serve on this committee as a member of the Planning Commission. An information page is online, including this work-in-progress inventory map.
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Use the comment section below or through this page to send us a message, on any subject, anytime, anyhow. Comments will be sent to author and potentially used in future posts. Please highlight whether you’d like you’re name published with your comment.
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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are that of the author and do not represent the opinions of writers previously published here or any of the organizations, committees, commissions or other affiliation the authors may belong to, unless so stated.
Traverse City’s fat streets and the benefits of a diet
Benefits of Road Diets_
This past Tuesday night the Traverse City Planning Commission wrapped up its review of the Corridor Improvement Master Plan. The comments generated through the four meeting review process will now be shared with the consultants for final edits, additions, and omissions. After those changes, it will come back to the PC for review and consideration on how best to use the plan.
Can 8th Street be better?
Beyond mobility
As expressed before Spring Break, the concept of applying road diets to 8th Street and Garfield Avenue were recommended. A road diet is the roadway conversion most often associated with converting a 4-lane roadway to a three-lane roadway, often narrowing the lanes, and thus creating more space for improved pedestrian and bicycle consideration.
Often the debate around road diets focuses on terms of mobility. Chiefly, how will it impact traffic? And, by traffic, this often narrowly expressed in purely motorized terms. We showed two weeks ago how road diets can actually be a net positive, or at least neutral, impact on motorized capacity of a corridor. However, implementing a road diet is not so narrowly focused.
Instead, particularly for under serving corridors like our two stroads (and, really, any of the other 3 corridors studied), it is about creating improved access and a more engaging place. A road diet is a shift away from the goal of satisfying people’s needs to go through an area to the primary goal of creating a place that attracts people and provides greater public good for the specific corridor and community. Fundamentally, it is about designing a place as if the people living and working there matter.
Below is a StreetFilms short that explains the benefits of road diets and why they are steadily being proposed in communities around the country. In addition to the film, I used a series of other resources to create the following diagram of a few of the most commonly found benefits of road diets.
(Click to embiggen)
What are the benefits I’m missing?
Getting there
Road diets don’t typically happen without a bit of political courage. Communities that have lived with a certain context for decades are often resistant to the suggestion that a change away from the focus on moving cars is possible without a slew of negative consequences. Traverse City will certainly deal with this discussion in the coming months and years. As the literature shows, if done in the proper context many of the negative fears of congestion, spill-over, and safety issues will not manifest themselves. Like other communities, there will be initial resistance followed by wide acceptance and requests for more; we have little reason to think otherwise.
Please, share the above diagram and information, as well as the video below, with people likely to be engaged on this matter.
Resources
- Going on a Road Diet by Federal Highway Administration
- Road Diets: Fixing the Big Roads by Dan Burden and Peter Lagerwey (PDF)
- Evaluation of Lane Reduction “Road Diet” Measures on Crashes by FHA
- York Blvd: The economics of a road diet by Cullen McCormick (PDF)
- The Economic Merits of Road Diets Dom’s Plan B
- Road Conversions: A Tool for Complete Streets Connected Communities: Complete Streets
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* Messages to the author can be sent via the comments section. This is a change away from the message form experiment that has unfortunately created too much spam. Comments will be reviewed and shared as a future blog post without the readers identity, unless otherwise requested.
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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are that of the author and do not represent the opinions of writers previously published here or any of the organizations, committees, commissions or other affiliation the authors may belong to, unless so stated.
Opportunity to celebrate and connect
A community-supported blog, thank you.
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PSA series to be unveiled at Green Drinks
The first MyWHaT/Stonehut Studios Collaboration!
This is PSA#1 of two public service announcements in support of inclusive systems and the practice of complete streets. This 30 second piece and the one minute follow-up will be unveiled Thursday night at the InsideOut Gallery, a MyWHaT underwriter. Come celebrate and connect. I would love to meet some readers I’ve yet to meet.
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Green Drinks
Thursday, October 18th
5-7 pm at InsideOut Gallery
$1.00 off beer and wine 20% off mixed drinks
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The PSA’s to be shown were created in coordination with the Connected Communities | Complete Streets work taking place in the community through the leadership of TART Trails, LIAA, and the Grand Vision Transportation Network.
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Thank you Aaron Dennis (right), I think this is the beginning of a beautiful connection. Sorry for the early mornings.
And, if I may, Aaron’s first feature-length documentary The People and The Olive will be screened this Sunday, October 21 at the Milliken Auditorium in conjunction with the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference. The latter runs from Friday to Sunday. Neither of them should be missed, details through the links.
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Reminder: Please read the comments policy if you haven’t done so already. If you feel you need to rant against the world and raise numerous tangential issues while personally attacking individuals or organizations, consider creating your own blog and tracking back to MyWHaT. If it is of value, you will attract readers. Or, send me a message with all the rants you wish. Otherwise, healthy, friendly discussion is fully encouraged.
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Bike safety throwback is always fun
A community-supported blog, thank you.
A bit of bike safety throw-back posted to the MyWHaT Facebook page is mostly right. I see at least one nuanced point that needs tweaking, you?
UPDATE: Last night the City Commission voted to reduce street vendor (a.k.a. transient merchants) fees outside of the DDA district back to the previous $50/day rate. An ad hoc committee was also formed to pursue a more detailed ordinance. That committee could use some non-business interests involved, if you are interested email Katelyn Stroven at the clerk’s office to be put on the ad hoc list…kstroven@ci.traverse-city.mi.us
ANNOUNCEMENT: The results of Acme’s community visioning sessions have been tallied and will be presented at an open house this evening in Acme. And, surprise! According to this morning’s Ticker, the public demand is for “slower traffic on U.S. 31, non-motorized pathways for recreation and commuting, unobstructed views of the water, and a community that looks and feels more like a town.” Seems to be a pattern here.
Dubbed Acme Shores, today the first concept out of the summer’s community input sessions will be unveiled. Stop by between 4-7 pm at the Williamsburg Dinner Theatre (map*) to give your reaction .
I may bike out around 4 if anyone wants to tag along–safety in numbers.
* Map updated from earlier route to theatre of same name in Virginia. Thanks for catching that RH!
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Contact MDOT: It’s about your future
A community-supported blog, thank you.
Engage & Represent
Comments to MDOT can be sent to Bob Parsons, MDOT public involvement and hearings officer or parsonsb@michigan.gov
Almost two-weeks ago, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) held an Open House in Traverse City concerning the next 25-year plan titled, “Moving Michigan Forward”. It was part of a statewide tour seeking comment on the current update to the plan.
I left wondering what the disconnect is between Lansing and regional offices, as well as the disconnect between citizens concerned about their communities and MDOT. Despite The state’s Transportation Commission recent approval of the statewide Complete Streets policy (PDF), questions about complete streets, pedestrian safety and comfort, and MDOT highways running through communities were answered dismissively.
Asked directly about the impact of the complete streets policy, the MDOT presenter flat-lined that “Michigan is an automobile state.” This was followed by an explanation that MDOT designs streets from the inside out and a complete street will only happen if there is money or right of way left over. That isn’t quite in the spirit or practice of complete streets.
Straighter, wider, faster: Is that the future?
Not every street is going to have 8-ft sidewalks, bike lanes and bus-stops, but with attitudes like this I don’t see many MDOT ROWs having anything other than 14-ft travel lanes, 16-ft turning lanes, giant turning radius, and as a result, speed limits set at the maximum allowable. Communities and mixed-use neighborhoods be damned, let alone safety for children and the ever-increasing elderly population.
That said, many MDOT representatives that I’ve spoken with in Lansing get it. They understand that Michigan’s future is tied to a more multi-modal, more land-use approach to planning of our transportation network. It is understood that with an aging population, our communities need networks more inclusive to active transportation and more effective public transit.
Petition
Those voices need your support. By Friday, please send a quick message to MDOT voicing your support for a more balanced approach to all users and an increased consideration for people on foot, bike, bus, and to the quality of life created when MDOT managed highways run through our communities. The people who live and navigate through those corridors require priority consideration in terms of treatments like better crossings and sidewalks, in addition to environmental concerns like emissions.
Please let MDOT know that you are proud that Michigan has a statewide complete streets policy and is a leader in the nation in terms of passing local policies. Now is the time to start planning for that future.
Comments to MDOT can be sent to Bob Parsons, MDOT public involvement and hearings officer at parsonsb@michigan.gov
You can also use this link to email…
Information about updating the plan is available here: http://www.michigan.gov/slrp
In addition to a quick email, please sign the online petition organized by Transportation Riders United calling for MDOT to plan for More Transportation Options, Not More Highways.
MDOT wants to hear from you:
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To the end of free parking–happy birthday parking meter!
A community-supported blog, thank you.
Park it
The infamous and falsely maligned parking meter had its 77th birthday yesterday. Despite the misunderstandings, the parking meter in some form or another is here to stay as a way to manage a perceived scarcity. There needs to be someway to keep those vehicles moving.
Note, it is a perceived scarcity. In a previous post titled, Got Parking? Hell Yeah, we highlighted a study that found that there are at least 500 million empty parking spaces at any given time in the United States. The majority of which are perceived free, which has consequence.
“Ninety-nine percent of automobile trips end in free parking and this has a major effect on people’s choice of what means of transportation to take.“
~ Mikhail Chester No Free Parking, Physics Central
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In “The High Cost of Free Parking,” economist Donald Shoup builds an argument from the title off of the premise of applying a market rate to parking spaces to help achieve community goals (reduce congestion, raise revenue, create thriving business districts…). Communities that have followed his findings have done so because they realize that storing automobiles for 22-hours a day is never free. As he says, “just because the driver doesn’t pay for the parking, doesn’t mean the cost goes away.”
So, we are a day late, but let’s celebrate the parking meter! Happy Birthday, nickel meter.
by ReasonTV
Related articles
- The Parking Meter – July 17 (nwujarrell.typepad.com)
- Got Parking? Hell Yeah (MyWHaT)
- No Free Parking (Physics Central)
The Ticker tackles downtown sidewalks
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The Ticker tackles downtown sidewalks and veers into street issues.
Nothing new, but worth mentioning that when people bike downtown they belong on the street and all three lanes–not just the bike lane. In fact, due to poor design of Traverse City’s bike lanes and the likelihood of being doored, it’s is considered practical to avoid the bike lane.
Yes, you can take the left lane…and look good doing it.
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As well, a reminder that TC passed an ordinance last year requiring traffic to stop, not yield, at crosswalks when people on foot present to cross.
More on the rules of the streets.
Hey transit fans!
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Below is an example of the Michigan Land Use Institute’s Jim Bruckbauer’s transit e-letter from last week. The email goes out sporadically to an ever-growing readership. James is huge transit fan and works tirelessly connecting the different transit authorities, and their riders, together. Not just regionally, but statewide working closely with groups like Trans4M (Transportation for Michigan).
If you’d like to sign-up to receive email updates on all things transit in northwest lower Michigan, send a request to james@mlui.org
Hey transit fans!
Summer has arrived in northwest lower Michigan!
That means, of course, that there are a few extra cars on the streets of our towns. Our streets have two seasons: they’re either filled with snow and ice, or they’re filled with festival tents and motoring tourists. Well, I guess that’s what happens when you live in the one of the coolest places in the country–we’ll take it!
My goal over the next few years, however, is to get a few us “regulars” off the roads so that those visitors arriving by car can get around a little easier, or more importantly, so that those folks will see us using our great bus systems and jump on themselves.
BATA, too, is doing what it can now to keep people free from downtown congestion and parking. They’re offering free rides to folks into downtown during Cherry Fest (RE).
Hmm… Is this our first park-n-ride for downtown employees?
When Ann Arbor set up their “temporary” park-n-ride system a while back, people loved it so much that they kept the system going. Now, it’s a popular way to get into downtown.
If you know someone who works downtown Traverse City and usually drives in from the east, make sure you tell them about the free rides. Two buses will travel every hour during the festival between Northwestern Michigan College and Thirlby Field, with stops along Front and State streets.
Northwest Michigan In Action
The Bus Stop Inventory Crew, that’s right BUSTIC, has as been out enjoying the sun while collecting information about BATA’s bus stops. The information will be used for BATA’s internal purposes, but also for uploading information to Google Maps. Soon, you’ll be able to enter two locations on Google Maps and you’ll be able to figure how to get to your destination using the bus.
Thanks for everyone who attended the training and has volunteered. This will be a big step for our region. We’re moving forward, folks!
State Transportation Policy Corner
Unfortunately, legislators left Lansing for the summer recess without moving forward on creating a regional transit authority (Crains Detroit) for southeast Michigan. And, Metro Detroit is paying the price. As I’ve mentioned before, a regional transit authority would help the region’s transit agencies become more coordinated and more efficient while still providing a better service without costing Michigan a dime. If the region wants to receive federal money, they must first have a well-coordinated transit system. It’s very likely to come up again before the end of the year, so if you want to learn more about the legislation, how it would impact our region, or how to get involved, drop me a note. (james@mlui.org)
Upcoming Events
- July 11 at 12:00 noon - Benzie Bus Board Meeting at the Benzie Bus Headquarters (14150 U.S. 31, Beulah, MI)
- July 26 at 4:00 PM - Grand Vision Transit Subcommittee at the BATA Hall St. Transfer Center (115 Hall St., Traverse City, MI)
- August 7 at 3:30 PM - Grand Vision Transportation Network Meeting at the NW Michigan Council of Governments (600 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI)
You might be interested in the following…
- BATA launches Traverse City to Williamsburg route (BATA)
- A stronger voice for buses may be needed in Elmwood Township (MLUI)
- How to build a better bus stop (Atlantic Cities)
- Santa Monica Resets Its Parking Meter System (NYTimes)
- In Vancouver, less parking, more transit a winning duo
- The week ahead: Decision time nears on highway spending bill (TheHill)
See you on the bus!
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Might you take the bus next week?
It beats bitching about traffic on Grandview.
Walk: You’re designed to
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Apparently, as recently as 20 years ago, the foot was used in a process called ‘walking,’ by which the human body actually propelled itself. Starting sometime in the late 1970s, these crude early feet gradually evolved into their present function of operating the gas and brake pedals on automobiles.”
~ “Human Feet Originally Used For Walking”, The Onion____
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I love walking, whether I’m strolling along a trail or a sandy beach. However, many of my most memorable walks are more urban and ordinary–walking down an alley, through a bustling market, or to home in the rain–splashing in puddles along the way. The best walks take me somewhere.
Walking is freedom. When walking we’re engaged with the world and in more control of our destiny. We walk at a pace influenced by our own strength, surrounding terrain, and the culture of the place where we’re from. It turns out, different cities breed their own unique walking styles and speeds. For example, Singaporeans top the charts for speed by walking an average of 18 meters every 10.55 seconds. This highlights the point that a culture of walking is partly learned.
The opposite is also true: walking can be unlearned. Albeit satirical, The Onion finely captured that point.
Since the automotive industrial complex took over in the 1930’s, vehicular consideration has dominated the planning, engineering, and budgeting of both private and public development. One result is that we are a nation that has almost forgotten our bipedal nature. In fact, it has necessitated special events to remind us that we can indeed walk. And, that it might even be good for us! One such event happens on the first Wednesday of every April, when the American Heart Association hosts a National Walking Day that encourages everyone to wear walking shoes to work.
I say wear whatever shoes you want–go barefoot if you must–it is time to re-engage yourself with the human instinct to standup and propel yourself by moving one leg ahead, then the other–and keep going.
The benefits of walking are well documented: lower risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other health issues, including a reduction in stress & depression.
As Gretchen Reynolds, the health and fitness columnist for The New York Times recently wrote:
If people want to be healthier and prolong their life span, all they really need to do is go for a walk. It’s the single easiest thing anyone can do.”
Additionally, people who walk more often show improved cognitive performance-bonus!
Walking is liberating.
It offers independence for much of the population that can’t drive. It also offers independence from the over $8,000 yearly cost of owning and operating a mid-size sedan. When you walk more than you drive, you seldom take note of the price at the pump even when you do fill your tank.
For the most part, Traverse City is a walkable town. Walking at a comfortable, steady pace from the center, you can reach the edges of the City in 30-40 minutes. There are challenges (especially for those who use wheelchairs)—an incomplete sidewalk network, numerous disconnects at major intersections, and a driving culture that seems to make people on foot targets—but it is improving and will continue to do so as more people choose walking to go from point A to B.
If the City is serious about bolstering property values, leaders need to better understand how the market favors communities designed for walkability; people want to live where they can safely and comfortably walk to dinner, work, school, and other activities. They understand the value and it is reflected in home values. The free market favors walkability while government policies often subsidize the alternative.
Summer is an excellent time to put feet to pavement. If you live within the City limits, integrate your closest trips by foot. If you drive, find a central place in town where you can park and walk to multiple destinations. Consider BATA or a cab for one leg of your trip.
Do whatever it takes to ignite a mental shift towards walking as your primary mode of transportation—not necessarily measured in miles, but attitude. The first step is admitting that we are walkers.
Walk: You’re designed to.
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A version of this commentary was originally published in the June issue of the Traverse City Business News.
Links:
- Human Feet Originally Used For Walking (The Onion)
- Walking speed in different cities (Dienekes Anthropology blog)
- Fighting Traffic (MyWHaT)
- Start walking now (AHA)
- The Surprising Shortcut to Better Health (NYTimes)
- Driving costs (AAA)
- Walking the walk (CEOs for Cities)
