Monday, July 12, 2010

Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)


Nashville BPAC logo
The Nashville BPAC is an advisory committee for the Metropolitan Government established by Mayor Karl Dean to promote and encourage safe bicycling and walking to further Nashville’s goal of becoming a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly city. One of the BPAC’s main focuses will be on Nashville’s interest to increase the safe usage of bicycle and pedestrian facilities as a significant and beneficial mode of transportation and recreation.
In addition to Transportation and Recreational benefits, there are four major benefits of creating a more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly Nashville.

Economic

  • Attracts business to Nashville-vibrant communities
  • Increases property values
  • Provides improved transportation access – MTA, RTA, sidewalks and greenways
  • More walking/biking foot traffic for businesses
  • “Eyes on the street” - safety increases: commercial, office, and neighborhood areas
  • Reduces health care costs
  • Decreases future capital expense – with complete transportation options

Health

  • Improves air quality – asthma, lung disease
  • Reduces obesity, overweight population (Nashville 56%)
  • Reduces cardiovascular diseases and diabetes
  • Fewer ER patients and associated costs
  • Lowers general health care costs

Environmental

  • Improves air quality (CO2 reduction, CMAQ funding)
  • Reduces carbon footprint – fossil fuel, heat electricity
  • Reuse of existing infrastructure – infill development
  • Less greenfield development – growing smart

Quality of life

  • Neighborhood access to parks, greenways, sidewalks
  • More Livable communities
  • Eyes on street – decreases safety concerns
  • Varied access to community services
  • Improves vitality rate, decrease health concerns

4 comments:

jeff said...

While in theory this is great, the reality is the committee is just another bureaucratic do-nothing. I live in Nashville and have not seen an actual improvement in cycle-friendliness due to this committee in the 3 years I've lived here. Yes, they provide a "voice" in city council and get issues like bike lanes in front of the mayor. But as far as I can tell, all they've done is prophesied (as a result of expensive surveys) that in 2030 Nashville will be bike friendly.

Bello Velo said...

Jeff,

Interesting. so who got the Bike Sharing under way?
Also The Bike racks at the Farmers Market?

How many new bike lanes have ben built, we have 1 and it is 500 feet long:)

I do like how they have tied it in with Pedestrian issues as well.

jeff said...

Those are true points about the bike racks and the bike sharing program. I love that we have this committee in Nashville. It is much better than the alternative of "nothing." Perhaps I am just too young and naive to expect things to happen more quickly.

Often, city-funded projects do fall short on insight from actual cyclists. Some of the new bike racks which you mentioned, have actually damaged the bikes being locked to them due to poor design (really a fault of the artist who designed the rack, and not the city itself). But more racks around town are a huge plus. I am excited about having a bike sharing program, but skeptical about the results. Thankfully the funding came from federal grants and not tax payer funds (yet).

Perhaps your post caught me on an overly skeptical day! We are fortunate to at least have cycling be a topic of conversation at the city - but I still want to see more done, and quickly! Surely you can appreciate that. :)

Bello Velo said...

Well having any funding would help here and have qualified people. You can look at our committee's results here hope you are a fan of creating sub committee's :)

http://www.hsvbike.com