It’s time to provide feedback on the City of Asheville’s implementation of shared streets and temporary parklets. The City is calling this new survey, “AVL Shares Space 2021 Survey.” It’s your chance to weigh in on the land use portion of the City’s COVID-19 pandemic response. Keep reading to see our list of suggested responses to their survey; you can take the survey by clicking this link. The survey is open through Sept. 20, 2021.

As background, AoB published a series of articles and letters to push the City to roll out a network of slow speed streets, commerce/pedestrian zones, and parklets. This call included a petition that circulated broadly, signed by 8 Organizations, 34 Businesses, and 220 Individuals. Of the three ideas, the City mostly delivered temporary parklets. Here are our background materials for your review:

• Interview: Explaining Commerce Zones and Low Speed Streets
• Low Speed Street Network and Circulator Map
• Petition: “Pledge of Support for Changes to our Streets”

AoB encourages you to respond to the survey and incorporate our suggestions into your response in order to further advance the prioritization of moving people safely throughout our city. AoB provides survey guidance for a limited number of questions as not all questions deal with issues of active transportation and user safety. 

Asheville on Bikes’ Recommended Responses

Below are screenshots of the questions and AoB’s recommended responses. Please complete the survey and share our guidance throughout your circles to intensify support for continued investment in active transportation facilities. 

Initiatives 1 & 2 ask for your input regarding “Shared Streets and/or Temporary Parklets”

The 3rd question of Initiatives 1 & 2  asks: “Have Shared Streets and/or Parklets impacted your experience of feeling safer and in alignment with public health guidelines during COVID-19?”

Answer: “Helped me feel much safer” The goal is to highlight that people oriented streets promote safety. 

The 4th question of Initiatives 1 & 2 asks: Have Shared Streets and/or Parklets influenced your decision(s) to access local goods and services during COVID-19?

Answer: “It very much encouraged me to access local goods/services,” because the goal is to highlight the connection between shared streets and business. 

The 5th and 6th question of Initiatives 1 & 2  asks “What do you like most about the temporary Shared Streets and/or Parklets?” and “What do you like least, what would you change.” 

Answer: The city has prioritized the safe and predictable movement of pedestrians above all other modes through a tactical urbanism approach. I encourage the city to continue this program and expand on it by working with a variety of partners (like Asheville on Bikes) to design, build, and implement more space for the safe and predictable movement of people.  

Answer: So far, “AVL Shares Space” is limited to just the central business district and focused on supporting businesses. I encourage the city to intensify its shared streets approach and build a series of  shared street networks to connect  neighborhoods into downtown and to each other to encourage biking and walking throughout Asheville. Emphasize ADA and inclusive design. Embrace the need of people who are differently abled. Consider Asheville on Bike’s circulator concept and build a variety of quick build complete streets into Asheville so that people aren’t overly reliant on cars to get into town. 

Question 7 of Initiatives 1 & 2 asks: “Are you supportive of continuing the Shared Streets and/or Parklet program longer term?

Answer: ‘very supportive,’ because shared streets are something that should transcend the pandemic. Let city leaders know that pedestrian facilities and safety are a long term asset to our community. 

Question 8 of Initiatives 1 & 2 asks: “If you are supportive of continuing the Shared Streets and/or Parklet program longer term, how much of a factor is the COVID-19 pandemic?” 

Answer: “Not at all a factor,” because it’s critical to document that shared streets are valued beyond the pandemic. We want our streets to work for people for the long run and not just the short term pandemic restrictions. 

Question 9 of Initiatives 1 & 2 asks: “Would you like to see Shared Streets and/or Parklets other locations in Asheville? If so, where?” 

Answer: “Yes, I’d like to see shared streets expanded throughout the City to areas like West Asheville’s Haywood Rd, the River Arts District, and Biltmore Village. I’d like to see the City embrace Asheville on Bike’s Circulator concept which would allow for more walking and biking into the city as that concept creates pathways for active transportation. The current plan is inadequate because it does not include any slow streets or traffic calming to create safer transportation connections for me to go to and from my neighborhood to reach the places I need to go. Integrate AoB’s circulator concept to build a network of shared streets into town from surrounding communities.

Initiative 4 focuses on the use of sidewalks 

The 3rd question of Initiative 4 asks: “What do you like least, or what would you change about outdoor dining (or merchandise) on sidewalks?

Answer: When business extends onto the sidewalk, it often obstructs or limits pedestrian movements therefore as this initiative continues, greater emphasis should be placed on the pedestrian experience. Prioritize universal design principles so that shared streets work for those who are most vulnerable and differently abled. 

The post Call To Action: Respond to City of Asheville’s “AVL Shares Space 2021 Survey” appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Organizations: 8
Businesses: 34
Individuals: 220

Is your name on the list below? Is your organization or business? Why not? It’s time to sign, and it is time to collectively advocate for more changes to our streets before more people get sick and more businesses fail. Click here to sign the pledge.

While we are all in this pandemic together, it is not true that we must all suffer the same consequences from the pandemic. Some cities will emerge stronger; some will suffer more than their fair share of grief, hurt, and loss. Signing this pledge is a clear vote from you, expressing that Asheville does not have to suffer the maximum consequences from the pandemic.

“The hope that we can motivate the City of Asheville and DOT to allow for reconfiguration and re-imagining or our transportation infrastructure to allow businesses to reopen with appropriate safety and health guidelines, with considerations for expansion of much-needed pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in our city.” – Signed, Stephen Pierson

Click here to sign the pledge and add your name to the list.

Organizations who support changes to our streets:

AARP, Mountain Region, NC
Connect Buncombe
Bicycle Benefits
Asheville Grown Business Alliance
Asheville GreenWorks
East-West Asheville Neighborhood Association (EWANA)
Democracy Rules 4 Senior Suffrage
Mountain True

“We encourage exploring options to help local businesses remain in business through the COVID-19 crisis and keep their employees and customers as safe as possible. We appreciate Asheville on Bikes’ help with creative solutions.” Signed, Franzi Charen, Asheville Grown Business Alliance

Businesses who support changes to our streets:

Liberty Bicycles, Inc.
Jargon Restaurant
CAKE Websites and More, LLC
Instant Karma
Outfitter Bicycle Tours
IP Strategies, P.C.
The Flying Bike
Hip Replacements
Wishbone Tiny Homes
COAST Brewing Company
Hornaday Design
New Belgium Brewing
Benji Burrell LLC
Asheville Bike Company
Turnkey Managers
Industry Nine Componentry
The Market Place Restaurant
Creative Hub Studios
Second Gear
Embellish Asheville
John Hornsby Creative
Trillium Family Medicine
Urban3
Crucible Bar
Proxy Home Watch
Warren Cycling LLC
Paul Taylor Sandals and Adorn Salon
Mary Weber Landscape Architect

“Shared streets will help to activate positive commerce in the midst of this pandemic and in the future will provide a more engaged neighborhood, a more active and beautiful streetscape, and a busy downtown Asheville that gives the right of way and safety to the needs of our locals, tourists, and pedestrians.” William Dissen, Chef and Owner, The Marketplace

Individuals who support changes to our streets:

Aaron Vaughan
Abby Walker
Alex Stevens
Allison Glackin
Allison Mangkang
Amanda Lavallee
Amanda Wilde
Amy Brooks
Amy Hornaday
Andrew Clum
Andrew Harris
Andrew Massey
Andy
Andy Paul
Andy Preston
Anna Pizzo
Annie Butzner
Annie Clingenpeel
Arthur McLean
Ashlee Lafferty
Austin Walker
Ava Carr
Barb Skupien
Beatrice Nathan
Ben Brown
Benji Burrell
Bess Baird
Bethany Malley Wijesinghe
Brandon Skupski
Brian Habel
Brian O’Donnell
Brooke Heaton
Bryan Overcarsh
Carol Kaufman
Carolina McCready
Cate Brandt Ryba
Cathy Williams
Chafin Rhyne
Chris
Chris Cabral
Chris Schmidt
Claire Siegel
Clark Mackey
Conway Weary
Coral Woods
Craig Friedrich
Dan Fisher
Dan Glidden
Daniel Manget
Danise Hauser
David E. Bendel
David Schroeder
Dawn Chavez
Deborah Compton
Deborah K. Inaba
Debra Layne
Douglas Engle
Ed Broadbear
Elbert
Elisa Roberts
Ellen Szedon
Ellison Smith
Emery Fischer-Schmidt
Emily Kujawa
Emily Muscarella
Emma Hutchens
Ernie Boyd
Estelle Woodward Arnal
Franzi Charen
Garvin Deters
Gen Kogure
Georgeanna Connors
Han Winogrond
Heath Dotson
Helen Hyatt
Ian Canary-King
Ian Cannon
Ian Klepetar
Isaac Pino
Jackie Rees
Jacob McGahey
Jacqueline Pauley
Jaime Tenny
James Dunton
Jamie Gilpin
Jan Sturgis
Jan Wencel
Jay Dore
Jeff Sawdy
Jen Chandlee
Jennie Rhyne
Jennifer Arellano
Jenny Fares
Jeremy Marcus
Jill Huebner
Jim DeGrave
Jim Grode
Joanne Stephenson
Jocelyn Hayes
John Hornsby
Joseph Minicozzi
Josh Baker
Joy Cadelina
Judith Chitwood
Julia Furdyna
Julie Stehling
Justin Landry
Katherine Thiel
Kim Mosteller
Kim Roe
Kim Roney
Krista Stearns
Larissa Bowman
Laura F. Richardson
Leah Cooper
Lee Seabrook
Lesa Peterson
Linda Giltz
Linda Tsan
Lindsay Broughel
Lindsey Prather
Lisa Swaim
Lisa-Gaye Hall
Mackenzie Kramer
Maggie Barry
Maggie Carnevale
Maggie Waddoups
Marcia Schroeder
Margaret Dahm
Marie-Louise Murphy
Mark Cobb
Mark McNeill MD
Mary
Matt Logan
Melissa Hicks
Meredith Singer
Michael Craft
Michael Stratton
Michele Bryan
Michelle Conklin
Michelle Pugliese
Mike and Claudia Nix
Mike Edwards
Nanci Mackey
Nancy Fitzpatrick
Natalie Arkfeld
Nathan Boniske
Nelle Gregory
Nick Kroncke
Nona Martin Atuck
Parker Sloan
Patricia Robbins
Patrick Conant
Paul Reeves
Peter Billingsley
Peter Shoemaker
Pierce Holloway
Rachelle Sorensen-Cox
Rebecca Chaplin
Rebecca Cramer
Rebecca Falls
Redus Brooks
Rhonda Egerton
Robert McAtee
Rod Baird
Ron Ogle
Russ Towers
Sam Hollis
Sara Alford
Sarah Brown
Sarah Dearing Davis
Sarah Haske
Sarah Thomas
Sean Piper
Serge Reinert
Shawndra Russell
Shelley McNeill
Simone Seitz
Sophie Mullinax
Stephen Edge
Stephen Pierson
Steve Eisenstein
Susan Casar
Susan Loftis
Suzanne Sule
Teal Brown
Thomas Champagne
Thomas Hinton
Tim Spira
Timothy Seneker
Timothy Spira
Tom Byers
Tom Piccirilli
Tony Hauser
Torin Kexel
Trevor Gwillim
Tyler Davis
Valerie L Martin
Vann Jennings
Veronica Crane-Lindsey
Veronika Gunter
Vicki Meath
Victoria Solbert
Wesley Gibson
William Armshaw
William Dissen
William Miller

“We are relocating to Asheville in August. I support slow streets and those designed for multiple mobility options. During COVID we need to redesign our community streets to allow for active mobility and for social distancing while supporting our local shops and restaurants.” Signed, Maggie Waddoups

“Virus is a present threat and will be here until there’s a vaccination. Let’s keep our downtown vibrant by providing spaces for pedestrians and non-motorized transportation.” Signed, Bess Baird

“Improved access to safe bike-able and walk-able streets leads to better health and a better quality of life.” Signed, Mark McNeill MD, Trillium Family Medicine

“As we live and age, the need for physical activity and social connectivity become increasingly important. Older adults in our community need safe, physically distant places to see others, feel a part of the community and maintain physical activity.“ Signed, Rebecca Chaplin, Associate State Director, AARP, Mountain Region, NC

Click here to sign the pledge and add your name to the list.

The post Support for the pledge is growing! You should sign it, too. appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

List of resources mentioned or shown during this interview:

• Download the plan that is being discussed in the interview, as pdf.
• More about Asheville’s Multi-Modal Transportation Commission
• Streetmix, a tool for creating before and after cross sections of streets
• Lisabeth Medlock’s survey results about people using downtown Asheville during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Asheville City Council meeting 5/26 re: Budget Crunch from COVID-19 consequences
• Nationwide bicycle riding and bike sales, both up sharply
• Oakland’s slow street network, 74+ miles, calmed by citizens without much City work
• The City of Asheville public feedback portal for re-allocating public space
• The NACTO Crisis Response Guide
• The Street Plans Tactical Urbanism materials guide, showing temporary materials

You may also enjoy this curated playlist of videos about cities who are using the public right of way differently as part of their COVID-19 response.

Please leave your feedback in the comments below.

Related Posts:

1. Released: Asheville MMTC members COVID-19 Streets Proposal
2. Youtube playlist: Cities Creating Space in Response to COVID-19

The post Interview: Explaining commerce zones and low speed streets appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.