| ©2004 Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council P.O. Box 17164, Lansing, Michigan 48901-7164 (517) 214-5684 jessicayorko@sustainablesolutions.biz |
| Lansing Walking and Bicycling Task Force |
Biking on the Riverwalk
Smart Commuting on the bus
Bingham walks and bikes to
school
school
Smart Commute bike
commuting classes
commuting classes
Mothers on the riverwalk
Smart Commuting Class
History
Click here for a PowerPoint Presentation on the
Lansing Walking & Bicycling Task Force!
On October 20, 2006, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero
launched a Walking & Bicycling Task Force force the
City of Lansing. A group of nearly 40 stakeholders
and community representatives began meeting that
month, focused on the question, "What do we need
to do to make Lansing a walk and bike friendly
community?"
Mid-MEAC has provided leadership and support in
the formation of the task force, the planning
process, and implementation, thanks to generous
support from the Ingham County Health
Department, through a grant provided by the
Michigan Department of Community Health.
From October through December, the group created
a set of goals based on their common wisdom and
analysis of the question at hand. Since then, the
group has been working to implement its goals.
Click here to read the report of these planning
sessions.
First year goals of Lansing Walking &
Bicycling Task Force:
1. INVENTORY of existing bike lanes/wide shoulders
and sidewalks, show current infrastructure and
condition.
-->See "existing conditions" chapter below, in #2.
2. PLAN for bike and pedestrian facility plan focused
on creating safer routes for bicyclists and
pedestrians to access destinations and connect to
adjacent municipalities' non-motorized facilities and
plans.
Prior to producing the plan, amass case studies
and examples of best practices, things to avoid,
and design guidelines.
--> To accomplish this goal, the task force's
infrastructure sub-committee commissioned an
MSU Urban Planning Student Practicum Team to
create a Non-Motorized Transportation Planning
Resource Book for the City of Lansing. The
students produced a 158 page book, containing
background information and research to aid in the
development of non-motorized planning in Lansing.
The chapters of the report are available in PDF, by
clicking on the links below:
Integrate the new plan into the city's MASTER PLAN
and ZONING ordinances. Integrate considerations
for walk-ability, bike-ability into site plan reviews for
new buildings.
3. MARKETING AND MEDIA CAMPAIGNS to help
people understand rights & responsibilities,
promote the lifestyle of walking & bicycling, and help
people understand the reasons behind
infrastructure improvements/changes.
--> Click here to learn about Smart Commute '07.
--> Click here to learn about the bike lane education
campaign.
4. BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY EDUCATION
THROUGH SCHOOLS. Integrate bicycle and
pedestrian safety training into drivers' education,
work with community resource officers and parent
teacher organizations to do in-school trainings,
introduce the Safe Routes to School concept, toolkit,
and funding opportunities.
--> Click here for photos of Bingham Elementary's
Walk and Bike to School Day on May 23, 2007,
coordinated by Marni Barron Bingham with support
from the Walking & Bicycling Task Force.
5. COMPLETE STREETS RESOLUTION. Create and
build support to pass a resolution by Lansing City
Council that would commit to integrating bicycle,
pedestrian, and handicap considerations into all
road construction projects.
Click here for a PowerPoint Presentation on the
Lansing Walking & Bicycling Task Force!
On October 20, 2006, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero
launched a Walking & Bicycling Task Force force the
City of Lansing. A group of nearly 40 stakeholders
and community representatives began meeting that
month, focused on the question, "What do we need
to do to make Lansing a walk and bike friendly
community?"
Mid-MEAC has provided leadership and support in
the formation of the task force, the planning
process, and implementation, thanks to generous
support from the Ingham County Health
Department, through a grant provided by the
Michigan Department of Community Health.
From October through December, the group created
a set of goals based on their common wisdom and
analysis of the question at hand. Since then, the
group has been working to implement its goals.
Click here to read the report of these planning
sessions.
First year goals of Lansing Walking &
Bicycling Task Force:
1. INVENTORY of existing bike lanes/wide shoulders
and sidewalks, show current infrastructure and
condition.
-->See "existing conditions" chapter below, in #2.
2. PLAN for bike and pedestrian facility plan focused
on creating safer routes for bicyclists and
pedestrians to access destinations and connect to
adjacent municipalities' non-motorized facilities and
plans.
Prior to producing the plan, amass case studies
and examples of best practices, things to avoid,
and design guidelines.
--> To accomplish this goal, the task force's
infrastructure sub-committee commissioned an
MSU Urban Planning Student Practicum Team to
create a Non-Motorized Transportation Planning
Resource Book for the City of Lansing. The
students produced a 158 page book, containing
background information and research to aid in the
development of non-motorized planning in Lansing.
The chapters of the report are available in PDF, by
clicking on the links below:
- Expanded Summary (10 MB)
- Table of Contents (40 KB)
- Section 1.0 Introduction (566 KB)
- Section 2.0 Methods (419 KB)
- Section 3.0 Existing Conditions (35 MB)
- Section 4.0 Design Guidelines (35 KB)
- Annotated Bibliography (1.22 MB)
Integrate the new plan into the city's MASTER PLAN
and ZONING ordinances. Integrate considerations
for walk-ability, bike-ability into site plan reviews for
new buildings.
3. MARKETING AND MEDIA CAMPAIGNS to help
people understand rights & responsibilities,
promote the lifestyle of walking & bicycling, and help
people understand the reasons behind
infrastructure improvements/changes.
--> Click here to learn about Smart Commute '07.
--> Click here to learn about the bike lane education
campaign.
4. BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY EDUCATION
THROUGH SCHOOLS. Integrate bicycle and
pedestrian safety training into drivers' education,
work with community resource officers and parent
teacher organizations to do in-school trainings,
introduce the Safe Routes to School concept, toolkit,
and funding opportunities.
--> Click here for photos of Bingham Elementary's
Walk and Bike to School Day on May 23, 2007,
coordinated by Marni Barron Bingham with support
from the Walking & Bicycling Task Force.
5. COMPLETE STREETS RESOLUTION. Create and
build support to pass a resolution by Lansing City
Council that would commit to integrating bicycle,
pedestrian, and handicap considerations into all
road construction projects.
- After further consideration of the impact of a
resolution, the task force option to set on the
path of creating a Non-Motorized Plan for
Lansing, outlining all of the necessary steps,
with concrete, measurable recommendations
and actions.
| In a walkable community you will find: - Destinations - like housing, offices, retail, schools, parks - situated within a safe, comfortable walking distance of one another - Mixed land uses, compact building/dense development, inviting pedestrian corridors, and "complete streets" that serve a full ranges of users - pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and automobiles. - People substituting driving with walking, bicycling, and other non-auto modes, contributing to reduced congestions and better air quality. From www.walkablecommunities.org: "Walkable communities put urban environments back on a scale for sustainability of resources (both natural and economic), and lead to more social interactions, physical fitness, and diminished crime and other social problems. Walkable communities are more live-able communities, and lead to whole, happy, healthy lives for the people who live in them." Bicycle friendly communities provide safe accommodation for cycling, and encourage residents to bike for transportation and recreation. In a bicycle friendly community you will find... - Government ordinances and regulations that require integrating walk-ability and bike-ability when roads and bridges are repaired and newly constructed. - Bicycling "facilities": a high percentage of arterial streets with striped and signed bike lanes, Signed bike routes. Abundant bike parking. Bike racks on buses. Regular maintenance of bike lanes, routes, trails, racks, and other facilities. - Training programs to help engineers, public officials, and residents understand bicycle safety needs and best practices. Commuter programs that encourage people to bicycle to work. "Share the Road" signage and campaigns. From www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org: "Communities that are bicycle-friendly are seen as places with a high quality of life. This often translates into increased property values, business growth, and increased tourism. Bicycle-friendly communities are places where people feel safe and comfortable riding their bikes for fun, fitness, and transportation. With more people bicycling, communities experiences reduced traffic demands, improved air quality, and greater physical fitness." |
Task Force Co-Chairs:
Active Task Force Members:
Additional stakeholders from Task Force planning sessions:
|
Mayor Virg Benero walks
Bingham students to school
Bingham students to school
Bike lanes on MSU campus
Sargent Emmons smart
commuting
commuting
Smart Commuting for fun and
fitness
fitness
Help Make Mid-Michigan Walk and Bike Friendly!
The Lansing Walking & Bicycling Task Force has
created a set of community engagement tools to
mobilize residents, businesses, and other
stakeholders to advocate for walk and bike friendly
communities. Visit www.walkbikelansing.com to
see how the project is being piloted in Lansing. The
goal is to elevate awareness and advocacy for
walkability and bikeability improvements. Tools
include draft letters and resolutions of support, fact
sheets, dialogue tools, action alerts, and a draft
Walk and Bike Lansing! plan, which offers 76
recommendations for making Lansing a walk and
bike friendly city. Get involved by scheduling a
community discussion, subscribing for Action
Alerts!, providing a letter or resolution of support, or
giving feedback on the Walk and Bike Lansing! plan.
This initiative is possible thanks to funding from:
The Lansing Walking & Bicycling Task Force has
created a set of community engagement tools to
mobilize residents, businesses, and other
stakeholders to advocate for walk and bike friendly
communities. Visit www.walkbikelansing.com to
see how the project is being piloted in Lansing. The
goal is to elevate awareness and advocacy for
walkability and bikeability improvements. Tools
include draft letters and resolutions of support, fact
sheets, dialogue tools, action alerts, and a draft
Walk and Bike Lansing! plan, which offers 76
recommendations for making Lansing a walk and
bike friendly city. Get involved by scheduling a
community discussion, subscribing for Action
Alerts!, providing a letter or resolution of support, or
giving feedback on the Walk and Bike Lansing! plan.
This initiative is possible thanks to funding from:
