Originally Posted by
gerv
The video above -- Hackney borough near London and Amsterdam -- suggests how a Portland lifestyle evolves from the current Lansing scene. Groups of activists, key individuals, interest organizations, bike clubs, whatever... talk to their City leaders and eventually instill a vision of how the city of the future might work. Over time, this vision becomes public policy. Every transportation infrastructure decision then bears the stamp of that vision and a raft of things like bike lanes, new traffic speed limits, bike training... all this emerges as details of that vision.
But to get it started, we need to get out there and sell it.
Yes, this is exactly what's happening here in Lansing. We already have the non-motor master plan in place. The overall City Planning Master Plan for the city includes a lot of non-motor facilities also. This is bolstered by the Complete Streets ordinance, which requires non-motor facilities on new and rebuilt roads.
Now there is a 10 million dollar grant to make a regional plan for transportation, housing and recreation. This plan is certain to contain a lot for non-motor also. So the planning is there, now the local activists just need to stay alert to make sure that the plan is actually followed.
These are things that Kiplingers and other organizations look at when they're compiling those places-rated lists, and also things that developers and corporations look at when they're determining new locations.