Greater support for walking and bicycles could reduce traffic, parking requirements, and serious accidents. It can also improve health and promote local buying. This all helps businesses, should be encouraged by local health providers and makes municipalities in the area more attractive, not to mention saving money on roads. Why not promote this as a collaborative effort and provide tax or zoning benefits to those who take advantage of it? If you are simply driving through and want to get somewhere else as fast as possible, consider stopping or living here.
-1 votes
Rank335
Idea#104
This idea is closed.
Vote Activity
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Disagreed8 months ago
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Agreed9 months ago
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Disagreed9 months ago
Events
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Status Changed from Active to Closed1 month ago
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Status Changed from Pending Approval to Active9 months ago
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The idea was posted9 months ago
Comments (2)
April 12, 2012 -- Thank you for your suggestion, we are always looking for new and innovative ideas.
Oakland County eGovernment
I've been accused of being a cynic before. With that in mind, I ride recreationally, not for commuting purposes. In my professional office setting, one that does not have a locker-room - it would not only be inappropriate for me to show up wearing cycling gear, but worse in need of a shower after a long bike ride.
Similarly riding my bike is the last thing I would consider for shopping excursions, with my two children in tow.
So many people think these fantastical/idyllic thoughts about applyign european, or very heavily populated eastern city notions to the wide-ranging low population areas of South East Michigan.
If you live in an area such as South East Oakland County's trendy "City-Burbs" and can make cycling work, then good for you - you aren't alone - but robbing one source of funding (tax breaks/incentives) to assist such a small demographic will not save money maintaining roads or anything of the like. (your semi-truck traffic will still be needed to deliver the goods for your boutique coffee shops and produce markets)
I agree that riding a bike or even walking may not work for everyone but since there are few choices, especially out here in north Oakland County, all one can do is drive a car which means more traffic, more parking lots and less of what many people moved here for. I don't have kids so I do ride my bike to the local grocery store which also has a bike rack. I go to the Library, the post office and I also ride just for fun. Everywhere I go, I get to park for free right at the front door. I can enter the County Parks for free. Yes we will still need roads for cars and trucks as there is no question they will be here for quite awhile. But do we need 5, 6 and 7 lane roads that are only busy for a few hours on normal work days? Does every single shopping center need enough parking to support the Christmas rush? Why is it considered easier, and perhaps safer, to drive less than a mile in a 3000 pound car than to walk or ride my 200 pounds? I agree we still need roads but we also need a choice as we can no longer afford miles and miles of paving that provides little benefit other than making it more convenient to drive more and more cars and trucks.