During my three-day visit to Durham, N.C., for the East Coast Greenway’s Southeast Greenways and Trails Summit, I learned plenty of new and inspiring information about bicycle and pedestrian trails and how to make safer and more successful spaces for people to travel without a motorized vehicle.
With all due respect to Durham, this is a no bull kind of story. Here are some thoughts and observations from the summit. Continue reading
Filed under Urban Planning
For the past couple of years, I’ve made a commitment to bike instead of drive as often as I can, and it is paying off in many ways.
So far in 2017, I’m off to a great start, thanks in part to mild winter weather, better gear, and an understanding and encouraging work place. Continue reading
Filed under My life
Cyclists mix with vehicular traffic on the Mayo Bridge in Richmond, Va.
I often draw from my experiences as a cyclist to form many of my opinions for improvements and alterations to roadways and bike networks. As someone who bikes often and is accustomed to being able to relax while taking risks among faster, larger vehicles, I’ve learned that that might not be the best strategy.
While children and less-experienced cyclists are usually on my mind, I’m still learning importance for how to plan for the most vulnerable users. Continue reading
Filed under Urban Planning
I’m a father. I’m a cyclist. I’m an environmentalist. Sometimes I like to bark out loud about people driving too much, which is wrecking our planet and making it hard for the next generations to thrive in this world.
A friend of mine pointed this out to me, writing “how’s it feel to be a real life version of Calvin’s father?”
Filed under My life
Traffic Backup on I-95 North at the Intersection with the Downtown Expressway in Richmond. Photographer – Tom Saunders, VDOT
I bike to save money. I bike to save the environment. I bike to improve my health. I also bike to stay away from my car and as often as I can, I look for ways to avoid motorized vehicles when walking, biking or even paddling could get the job done just as well.
Despite the many flaws with cars, they are not my enemy, but I sure do love avoiding them. Read this well-written lede into this article, from the CityLab: Continue reading
Filed under My life
Can video evidence replace data when it comes to bike and pedestrian planning? I love this concept. Data collection is hard with bike/ped, and perhaps observing conflict areas over a dedicated period of time could prevent conflicts to vulnerable users…and unnecessary injuries and deaths.
A recent article by Next City detailed a planning process happening in certain cities that is helping to speed up processes in creating safer environments for pedestrians and bicyclists in key transportation areas.
Filed under Urban Planning
Trail lovers in Richmond have it good. Really good, and we know it.
I covered the first-ever Richmond Trail Forum for RichmondOutside.com. The crowd of more than 100 people was impressive, with more than 100 people in attendance and everyone seemed quite invested in the direction of the forum discussion. Continue reading
Filed under My life
Phil Riggan 