Can a City Really Change?

I attended the Charlotte area bicycle alliance meeting this passed weekend.  It was generally an encouraging and productive meeting.  I can’t wait to help and to see how some of the ideas are implemented.

The Mayor of Charlotte, Anthony Foxx attended and had some interesting comments.  He didn’t make any big promises but actually passed on some good information.  Charlotte has recently passed 100 miles of bike ;anes, which I think is an applaudable achievement for this city.  The general strategy for CABA and other bicycle advocacy groups in this city has been to target road resurfacing as a time to lay down more bike lanes.  However, I think one of the meeting attendees said it best when she said, “Just paint them!”  That’s the sort of out side the box thinking we need in Charlotte.

The mayor discussed a conversation he recently had with secretary of transportation Ray LaHood.  The mayor passed on to us a point he made to Mr. LaHood in which he said Charlotte is better positioned to transform itself from a sprawl choked  Southeast city to one which is more livable and less car dependent than any other in the Southeast .  For 25+ years Charlotte has had unchecked urban sprwal which makes this city one of the most car dependent and least pedestrian/bike friendly cities in the nation.  Mr. Foxx seems to think we are well positioned to turn this around, and perhaps quickly.  However, this city faces an uphill battle because of many factors.  As the Mayor pointed out, the city faces a budget gap currently, so increased infrastructure expense will be difficult to promote and justify.  Additionally, Charlotte residents are not very receptive to anything which is going to impeded automobile usage.  Most people in this city do not share the vision of a place which is more pedestrian and bicyclist friendly with healthier air and fewer traffic injuries and deaths.  They don’t care to make the sacrifices to implement such a place if it comes at the cost of their ability to drive quickly from point a to point b.

I had a great ride this morning, and it certainly was a great way to start the week.  I got to the office with a smile on my face which I am certain is better of than 99% of my colleagues on a Monday morning after the Super bowl.