No foolin' - Important articles published on April 1, 2021.
From the NY Times:
If You Build It, They Will Bike:
Pop-Up Lanes Increased Cycling During Pandemic
Pop-Up Lanes Increased Cycling During Pandemic
"A study of European cities adds to a growing body of evidence that investments in cycling infrastructure can encourage bike commuting, which helps cut greenhouse gas emissions."
From Transportation for America:
"To address urgent climate needs, every state will need to make it possible for their residents to drive less every day. But too many shy away from taking concrete steps to do so, putting all of their efforts into improving fuel efficiency and electric vehicle adoption. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) just took a key step in the fight against climate change: setting an ambitious target for reducing driving (measured as vehicle miles traveled, or VMT). "
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The articles got me thinking of
Energy and Carbon in transportation
Bicycling instead of driving reduces VMT as well as the carbon dioxide emissions. Non-renewable energy consumption in the US is driven by the transportation sector (figure Energy flocharts.llnl.gov). Locally and nationally the focus is on changing the source of energy and producing electric vehicles for transportation. An obsession with electrification of the automotive and trucking industry and automation of driver-less vehicles does little to address the consumption. The discussions include where the charging stations go as well as access and equity of charging electric vehicles. Meanwhile the inefficiencies of moving several ton vehicles remain. Bicycling can reduce VMT for so many trips which are short and the energy neg-a-watts (watts not used) reduces the carbon impact to climate. It's conservative thinking with many benefits for people and planet.
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| flowcharts.llnl.gov/sites/flowcharts/files/Energy_2019_United-States.png |
Distraction
This obsession with changing fuel sources is a distraction to the fact that cars take up so much space.
Electrification
of more of our lives does not solve much in real terms but
displaces the consumption of energy from one source to another. The
energy
required to produce the vehicles and the equipment to
produce the electricity, as well as providing all the space for the vehicles not in use (parking) remains.
[For the other data sets including 2021 go to llnl.gov - energy]
Carbon Dioxide Emissions in in New Hampshire 2017:
In 2017 New Hampshire the emissions were 13.4 Million Metric Tons of carbon dioxide (figure flowchart.llnl.gov - latest annual graph available from LLNL) and the mojority of this was petroleum for the transportation sector. It would be sensible to try and reduce the VMT and emissions.
The 19th century technology of the bicycle and the advances since have brought us the modern bicycle transportation options including efficient cargo bicycles. These can help reduce energy consumption, climate causing emissions and make us more healthy in the process. Why don't we?
[For the other state data sets including NH go to llnl.gov - carbon]
The bicycle is efficient
For me the bicycle still remains the most efficient means of transport for short trips while providing health and wellness of body as well as a smaller carbon footprint on the
planet. So - yes, the switch to different energy is just a distraction. Being more efficient as humans and taking responsibility individually for our climate impact is what we can do.
A two to 3 ton vehicle is not required to carry home groceries. Don't tell me people can't get groceries, carry things, go to the park with your kids, take them to school without a car - cargo bikes say otherwise!
Many short trips could be achieved with active transport -- if only the streets were safe and inviting to ride on.
Graphic from "WalkScore" images: Illustrates from Capital a walk 15 min (green line) vs riding bicycle 5 to 15 minutes.
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If only there was leadership!
In Concord, NH an obstacle to realizing the efficiency of bicycling is often due to the lack of safe infrastructure. Decision makers of the city are often so focused on economic development they seem to be blind to the opportunities for reducing VMT and climate causing emissions from transportation.
Development Disconnect and
a Downtown Drive-Thru
Recent projects include the Interchange Development project at I93 Exit 17 which is about to be authorized to proceed at City Council on 4/12/2021. In addition a drive-thru coffee shop which is proposed by Brixmor is near to being built in the downtown of Concord. The Master Plans as well as ordinance forbid it up until recently. The Planning Board will review it again soon.
Major Development Disconnect at Exit 17:
The Interchange Development project with it's expansion of the TIF district and $4.78M roadway improvements along with cheap talk about pedestrian bicycle access illustrates one disconnect. The site will be challenging at best to access without a car. The route along route 4 by foot or bicycle would be arduous for anyone not in a motor vehicle, IMO.
Mayor Bouley and the vision of drive-thru in downtown Concord:
The Brixmor development has proposed a coffee shop drive-thru to downtown Concord, ushering in the Mayor's vision of drive-thru businesses in the downtown core (Zoning Board Minutes 3/11/20 )- as if that was a good idea!
Zoning changes were made (Planning Board 7/17/20 minutes item 7A) to allow the drive-thru development. The change of ordinance was adopted by City Council for August 10, 2020 minutes - (For the details see Agenda Item number 27A and 28.
Zoning changes were made (Planning Board 7/17/20 minutes item 7A) to allow the drive-thru development. The change of ordinance was adopted by City Council for August 10, 2020 minutes - (For the details see Agenda Item number 27A and 28.
Further Energy and Transportation Efforts:
Meanwhile the local energy and environment advisory committee is focused on
weatherization and electrification of the transportation sector. The transportation operations committee reviewed how a bicyclist on a sidewalk (Inf5-TOC-4 9/22/20) was at fault for their traffic accident (as if Loudon Road is a welcome place to ride in the street) and one fatal accident and two bicycle accidents in (Inf5-TOC-5 10/27/20) [These minutes are on the City Council Agenda as Info 5 items for approval before being posted (as of 4/8/21)].
The transportation policy advisory committee (TPAC) hasn't published their minutes since June 2020 (as of 4/8/21) so who knows what they're up to. The bicycle advisory committee minutes are up to date and on 4/5/21 discussed the "need to update the City's Comprehensive Transportation Policy".
With plenty of lip service to "Complete Streets" and requiring developments to be "bicycle and pedestrian friendly" the City of Concord is anything but a community where streets are built for use by "all users of all ages and abilities".
Priorities:
The real priorities are reflected in the city budget past and present where they meet the road -- the lion share of infrastructure dollar$ are for motor vehicle infra while limited "share the road sharrows", other bicycle street markings fade away, unattended when repainting road markings.
We've (City of Concord) got million dollar parking garages refurbishment, hundreds of thousand dollars for "smart" parking meters and kiosks. What remains is cheap talk when addressing the need for safe bicycle access for those who would like to be active in their transport.
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Owning and operating a motor vehicle should not be required to participate in society!
It comes down to leadership and missed opportunity. The tragedy is people should be provided the opportunity to participate in society without owning and operating a motor vehicle.
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation seems to indicate that at the U.S. government level, change may be possible.
The questions for Concord, NH remain - What will the future be if we continue to build like the past? How will we reduce VMT? How can we drive down emissions when the infrastructure fails to offer options? For the most efficient means of transport why are we not making it safe enough to get around on a bicycle? We could welcome a more active and healthy community by both building better and reducing vehicle miles traveled.
I ride for transportation every day rain, snow or shine but it's frightening some times. If leadership gets the message that we need options perhaps we can address the issues of inequity and climate change. Ask your City Council member to do more for a livable and equitable Concord along with me. And consider how you can make those short trips by bicycle, even if you're frightened a little. Be safe.
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Contact for further info or to discuss:
ConcordNHBikeLane at gmail dot com
ConcordNHBikeLane at gmail dot com
p.s. - Happier Transportation
For information on the inefficiency of parking and driving check out mainstreetparking.blogspot.com.
We recommend the Life & Transportation page and watching the video "Happier, Healthier, Sexier, and Smarter: Transportation and the Secret of Life" - by Jeff Tumlin.