Protected bike paths can literally contribute to all facets of city life, local economics, health, happiness, and safety!
- Corpus Christi is ranked amongst the worst cities for cycling in America. https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/best-biking-cities/
DEMAND
- There is a petition of at least 600 signatures. There are names and zip codes in the petition. https://chng.it/22trw2tC
- The city makes big decisions with less input! Look at the last five city issued surveys. The last city survey had less than 100 respondents! https://www.cctexas.com/sites/default/files/Public_Survey_2_Summary.pdf So why are they ignoring our much larger demand as demonstrated in our petition?
- 1 in 3 Americans own a bike. They need access to safe protected bike paths! https://www.livestrong.com/article/13730398-cycling-statistics/
- Mobilize the marginalised! Many people are unable to drive because of:
- Costs.
- Medical reasons, see the Texas Guide to Driver Limitation: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/medical-advisory-board/pdf/MABDriverLimitationGuide.pdf
- Legal reasons,
- Age (under 16).
Are the travel needs of everyone who can’t access driving less valid?
HEALTH
- Make much needed exercise readily and easily available. Experts say that it is important to make your environment easier when forming new habits. Corpus Christi has a poorly designed city landscape to accommodate it’s residents when they want to form new exercising habits. https://bigthink.com/the-well/wendy-wood-changing-habits/
- When more people exercise, it is less healthcare costs for taxpayers.
ECONOMY
- Many studies prove that protected bike paths increase the local economy. https://trec.pdx.edu/news/study-finds-bike-lanes-can-provide-positive-economic-impact-cities
SAFETY
- It is NOT feasible to have cycling and pedestrians in the same ways. Bikes go at a speed of 12 mph, pedestrians are 2 mph! To make commuting feasible, they cannot share spaces for safety.
- None of the bike paths meet the FHA design guides. https://nacto.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2-4_FHWA-Separated-Bike-Lane-Guide-ch-5_2014.pdf
- Protected bike paths mean less injuries and less deaths. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that protected bike lanes reduced the risk of injury by an impressive 90%. https://www.terracastproducts.com/how-much-do-protected-bike-lanes-help-to-prevent-accidents/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20protected%20bike%20lanes,American%20Journal%20of%20Public%20Health.
OTHER REASONS
- If more people cycled, there would be less congestion. https://engineeringandarchitecture.com/here-are-200-people-in-177-cars-vs-without-cars-vs-on-buses-vs-on-bikes/
- There is enough space for protected bike paths. San Antonio and Houston and Austin found plenty! Other cities figured it out!
- It isn’t that costly! “A modern, protected bike lanes can costs anywhere from $133,170 to $536,680 per mile, according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.” https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/07/29/meet-the-protected-bike-lane-that-any-city-can-afford-to-build/#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20a%20modern,Pedestrian%20and%20Bicycle%20Information%20Center.