A thought provoking article. Bicycle-friendly projects are even good for people who will never ride a bike. Here's how: (AARP Livable Communities series)

NOTE: This is a reposting of a blog article that originally ran on March 23, 2019, but one that is especially relevant in the local current climate. The popularity of bicycling has increased dramatically during this COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, long term strategic plans have been tossed aside on personal whims of the current local officials.   

10 Ways Bicycle-Friendly Streets Are Good for People Who Don't RideBikes

Benefits abound for those with no intention of ever getting on a bicycle

by Jay Walljasper, AARP Livable Communities

This article is part of the AARP Livable Communities series.

Please read the entire article and consider the 10 reasons – set out in detail in the full article. But first, I would like to start with the PS or post script, which really hits home the some major points for those who skim or fail to finish the article:

 P.S. People of All Ages Like to Bicycle

Contrary to myth, bikes aren't only for kids, and bicycling as a means of exercise and transportation is not the sole purview of young, male, ultra-fit daredevils.

The article notes that the number of older, younger, female and inexperienced bicyclists is rising.

Riders age 50 and over pedaled an estimated 2.6 billion miles rides in 2009, according to the latest data from the National Household Travel Survey conducted by the USDOT. That's more than a six-fold increase from 1995, when that age group covered less than 400 million miles.

Read this article. Bike lanes are not the enemy, to the contrary, they are part of the Safe Streets Guidelines that Palmetto Bay adopted under my administration which is still the stated Policy of Palmetto Bay, unless and until that resolution / policy is rescinded.

The author makes the case that the solution is to share the streets by providing a space for each listed category of user, again, making the case that bicycle-friendly projects are even good for people who will never ride a bike. Here's how:

1. Safer Streets Are Safer For Everyone 

2. Safer Sidewalks 

3. Smoother Trips 

"The anxiety and anger that many people have about bicyclists is because we have streets designed for conflict," observes Randy Neufeld, director of the SRAM Cycling Fund. "Everyone is nervous because no one knows where the bikes belong. Protected bike lanes take that chaos and disorganization away. We're not all fighting over the same space."

In fact, says Martha Roskowski of People For Bikes, defining spaces is the reason why research shows that drivers like protected bike lanes: "It increases the predictability of bicyclists by giving them their own place in the streets."

4. Less Congestion 

It makes sense that having more people on bicycles will lead to less roadway congestion. However, a study by researchers at the University of Virginia finds that increased bike riding across America could mean more congestion if bike lanes are not included on busy streets. 

5. Increasingly Livable Communities 

"Bicycling makes cities more attractive," explains Gil Penalosa, founder of 8 80 Cities, which promotes making community livability for people of all ages. "The quality of the air is better and the amount of noise is less. You're more likely to know your neighbors and stop for a conversation." 

Arlington's Leach notes that neighborhoods with bike lanes are often "filled with people on the streets going to stores, sitting in cafes." 

6. Economic Vitality 

One of America's most ambitious bicycling projects is Indianapolis' Cultural Trail, an 8-mile network of separated bike and pedestrian lanes that has reinvigorated a number of struggling business districts and sparked a whopping $1 billion in increased property values. The Cultural Trail has also bestowed considerable cachet on this often-overlooked city. 

7. More Opportunity 

8. Saves Money For Taxpayers 

In an era when streets and sidewalks across the country are in disrepair, bicycle projects can save us a bundle in maintaining and expanding our transportation systems. 

Even protected bike lanes are "dirt cheap to build compared to road projects," says Gabe Klein, a partner at Fontinalis, a venture capitalist firm founded by Ford Motor Co. Chairman Bill Ford. 

9. Health Care Savings 

The health benefits of bicycling look almost like a miracle. Moderate physical exercise such as bicycling for only 30 minutes a day reduces a person's chances of diabetes, dementia, depression, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and high blood pressure by 40 percent or more. 

10. A Greener Environment 

Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of all greenhouses gases, the second largest sector after electricity (30 percent), according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

A study from the Worldwatch Institute found that swapping a car for a bike on short commutes of four miles to work and back would generate 2,000 less pounds of carbon every year — which adds up to a five percent reduction in the carbon footprint of an average American. 

More bicycles on the streets and fewer cars also lessen other forms of air and noise pollution.

Planning for an age-friendly community requires planning to keep everyone safe and active. 

Please see a related post: March 9, 2018, Age Friendly community - an update. Palmetto Bay is the 156th community to be accepted in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. Where an update was provided on Palmetto Bay moving onto the next step toward being recognized as an "Age Friendly" Community.

FDOT Vision Zero. How many fatalities are acceptable?

An average of 800 pedestrians and bicyclists are killed in traffic crashes each year in Florida. 

What number do you find acceptable?

Update on Palmetto Bay's tree fiasco - not so good, trees uprooted and left by the side of the road

This is not a happy update. You can observe the entire thread on the Village of Palmetto Bay For Real Facebook group page. I say its time for Palmetto Bay to get back to acting like a Tree City USA and properly plant the right tree in the right place.

Paid for by our tax dollars

This is not a way to treat a tree, regardless of who paid for it. I have not gone to check, but I hope that the reports are exaggerated.  I'm told that a total of seven (7) trees are currently down (as of 8:00 AM, Saturday, 8/03/2019) and laying along side the roadway.

Reports posted on the Village of Palmetto Bay for Real site were that the trees planted in positions obscuring stop signs were pulled out and left by the side of the road.  One report speculated that it was village employees.  Not sure. I would think that Village employees would have loaded the trees in trucks and set them for preservation and replanting in a suitable location.

My questions:  

• Was this self-help by local Village residents upset with the lack of communication by the village and what they see as risk to the safety of the neighborhood? 
• Who is responsible for the original in-artful and dangerous planting locations?
• Are these trees now damaged and not able to be replanted? 
• Will these trees be salvaged and replanted or will they be tossed out or stolen by passers-by who may justifiably believe that these pulled trees are free to the taking (and rehabbed by someone who actually cares).
• Who is paying for this mess (the taxpayers)?
• Who is going to get this mess straightened out?

See the PRIOR RELATED POST from the day prior, Friday, August 2, 2019: See an issue? Report it. Allow the Village to address the issue before there is an accident – where it is discussed that a fellow resident noticed that this newly planted tree is causing a safety issue, putting people at risk of injuries from a driver now having the view of the stop sign obscured. The concern is that the tree (and the support stakes) block the stop sign and creates a traffic hazard. 

As I stated, I am proud that Palmetto Bay became a Tree City USA community under my terms as Mayor due to our long history of area beautification. But this program should, and can, continue without putting public safety at risk. I am not proud of this current handling of the tree plantings.

[Photos above reveal condition of 7 trees formerly in the ground along Franjo]

Seriously, what is going on here lately in the village? There is plenty of information passed on regarding special events and tax free weekends, but the information seems sparse and guarded about the important issues relating to taxes and major capital projects.

Bike Safety / Sharing the Road. May is National Bike Safety Month

Congratulations Doral - awarded the 2019 Safe Streets Community Award

Congratulations Mayor JC Bermudez and City of Doral for its 2019 Complete Streets Community Award. Doral was announced as the winner at the 2019 Safe Streets Summit (Monday 2/25/2019)

Relevant past post/background: January 28, 2019, Congrats Team Palmetto Bay - a nominee for the 2019 Safe Streets Awards. Will the current Mayor and Council remain committed to Palmetto Bay's policy of Complete Streets Guidelines?

The Safe Streets Awards are an opportunity to highlight individuals and jurisdictions that have led by example in creating better streets for all users. Palmetto Bay is nominated in the Miami-Dade County section for the Complete Streets Community Award. The nominees are as follows:

• Bike Walk Coral Gables (BWCG)
• City of Doral
• Freebee
• The Street Plans Collaborative
• Village of Palmetto Bay

Congrats Team Palmetto Bay - a nominee for the 2019 Safe Streets Awards. Will the current Mayor and Council remain committed to Palmetto Bay's policy of Complete Streets Guidelines?

Congratulations Village of Palmetto Bay. Let's keep the success moving forward. 

Hard teamwork during 2017 & 2018 is paying off and the Village is set to be recognized. The Urban Health Partnerships has announced the nominees for the 2019 Safe Streets Awards. The Safe Streets Awards are an opportunity to highlight individuals and jurisdictions that have led by example in creating better streets for all users. Palmetto Bay is nominated in the Miami-Dade County section for the Complete Streets Community Award. The nominees are as follows:

• Bike Walk Coral Gables (BWCG)
• City of Doral
• Freebee
• The Street Plans Collaborative
• Village of Palmetto Bay

A complete list of the nominees (regardless of category) is posted at end of this blog (Miami-Dade County only).

Here are the facts relating to Complete Streets and Palmetto Bay's buy in to date.

We need to keep this work on complete streets, including bike lanes, etc., et. al. going strong.  

I suggest that this current council take a look at policy set to date by prior administrations, specifically Resolution 2017-67,  (sponsored by Mayor Eugene Flinn) wherein the Village Council unanimously adopted  Miami-Dade County’s “Complete Streets Guidelines” and directed that these guidelines should be incorporated into the planning, design, approval, and implementation processes for any construction, reconstruction, retrofit, maintenance, alteration, or repair of streets, bridges, or other portions of the transportation network, including pavement resurfacing, restriping, and signalization operations if the safety and convenience of all types of users (i.e., pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transit riders, including children, youth, families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities) can be improved within the scope of the work.

The 2014-2018 Village Council directed the Village Manager to incorporate, whenever feasible, the Complete Streets Guidelines into the operations of any Village departments responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of County streets, bridges, and other portions of the transportation network and adjust any impacted standards so that they are consistent with the recommendations in the Complete Streets Guidelines.

Related Post: January 13, 2019, The Miami Foundation - Safer Street Talk: How We will Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclists Deaths - detailing some of the collaboration that Palmetto Bay has been a part of to date in Safe Streets

With this in mind, and specifically considering the current award nomination for past policy and achievements, I strongly suggest that the current Mayor and Council read the Complete Streets Guidelines and determine whether this newly elected council wants to revisit the concept of and Palmetto Bay's future commitment to Complete Streets.

COMPLETE STREETS – Miami-Dade County resources:

Miami-Dade County Complete Streets Design Guidelines available

Per the County webpage:

“Do you want safer streets in your community? Do you want to be able to get around by bike, foot, transit and automobile? Do you need help calming traffic in your community? Check out the Complete Streets Design Guidelines.” 

(Click link above to view)

PALMETTO BAY  votes on Complete Streets under past administrations:

Several important votes were taken in 2017 in line with the “Complete Streets Guidelines” policy. Among these votes:

Bike lane improvements

June  5, 2017   Reso 2017-77 - 82nd Avenue from SW 160th Street to SW 168th Street (approved 5-0)

April 19, 2017  Reso 2017-47 - Joint Participation (JPA) between Pinecrest, Miami-Dade and Palmetto Bay in design and construction of bike lane improvements on SW 136th Street from US1 to Old Cutler Road (approved 4-1, Vice Mayor opposed).

Note that Miami-Dade County has acted on this matter, in the memorandum dated October 23, 2018, Agenda Item No.: 8(N)(4) recommending approval of the resolution authorizing the execution of a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) between MDC and Palmetto Bay. CLICK HERE to view the memorandum posted online at Miami-Dade.gov 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Transparency dictates that both these resolutions (at a minimum) should be brought forward and either rescinded or modified to conformed to properly reflect the policy and intention of the incoming Mayor and Village Council.

COMPLETE LIST OF MIAMI-DADE AWARD NOMINEES:

The Safe Streets Awards are an opportunity to highlight individuals and jurisdictions that have led by example in creating better streets for all users.

COMPLETE STREETS CHAMPION AWARD

Miami-Dade County

•            Meg Daly, Founder and President/CEO of Friends of the Underline

•            Anthony Garcia, Principal, The Street Plans Collaborative

•            Robert Ruano, Founding and Current Chairman of Bike Walk Coral Gables (BWCG)

•            Jason Spiegel, Founder of Freebee

•            Patrice Gillespie Smith, Sr. Manager of the Miami Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) Planning, Design & Transportation Department

COMPLETE STREETS COMMUNITY AWARD

Miami-Dade County

•            Bike Walk Coral Gables (BWCG)

•            City of Doral

•            Freebee

•            The Street Plans Collaborative

•            Village of Palmetto Bay

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PROJECT

•            Avenue 3 Miami Quick Build

•            City of Sunrise - Sunset Strip Boulevard Complete Streets Project

•            Clematis Streetscape Project

•            Old Dixie Highway Complete Streets Project

•            Palmetto Park Road Shared Path Improvements

•            Pinecrest Elevation Drive

•            Shady Lakes Drive Extension and Shady Lakes Drive and PGA Boulevard Intersection Improvements

•            US-1 Complete Streets Project in Village of Tequesta

•            SW 152 St Separated Bike Lanes

Editor's note: This information provided by Eugene Flinn for purposes of transparency and to document past and present County and Municipal policy relating to complete streets and bike lanes in Palmetto Bay.

The Miami Foundation - Safer Street Talk: How We will Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclists Deaths

Back in 2016, I was fortunate to represent Palmetto Bay at The Miami Foundation - Safer Street Talk: How We will Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclists Deaths. The event was held Thursday, September 15, 2016, and it became part of the goals and policies that drove how I tried to direct policy in Palmetto Bay while mayor. The event topic and projected action plan remains relevant, especially as we focus on whether the current administration will remain committed to "complete streets." This was a discussion about how to make our community more bike and pedestrian friendly.  The panel featured:

•Seleta Reynolds, General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Leader of Great Streets for LA, and Chair, National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
• Stuart Kennedy, Director of Program Strategy and Innovation, Miami Foundation
•Alice Bravo, Director, Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works
•The Honorable Jose Felix Diaz, Florida House of Representatives 
•George Navarrete, Deputy Director, Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Dept.
•Paul Schwiep, Chair, Citizens Independent Transportation Trust (and Palmetto Bay resident)

What is the SAFER PEOPLE - SAFER STREETS - LOCAL ACTION PLAN?

The following taken from the executive summary - (CLICK HERE).



Speed kills cyclists and pedestrians.

Plan goals include:
1.Adopting a ''Vision Zero'' policy that sets the goal of zero pedestrian and bicycle deaths.
2.Making texting while driving a primary offense to help increase enforcement.
3.Realizing the County's Greenway Master plan of building 500 miles of connected bike trails.
4.Facilitating a culture shift within transportation planning that places a higher value on pedestrian and bicycling needs.
5.Creating a Safety Innovation program to implement new safety strategies using technology.
6.Developing ''Complete Streets'' guidelines to help engineers and planners put moving people above moving cars.
7.Launching a Miami-specific education and enforcement campaign cautioning drivers to consider all users of the road.

This is the start of future discussions in this blog regarding Complete Streets and making our village streets safer for all.  

I look forward to engaging in this topic.