Indianapolis needs to lean more into walkability

We’ve all seen the statistics on pedestrian fatalities. The current state of infrastructure for those that don’t own a car in this city is pretty bad. However I do have hope in that things are improving and I believe the winds are changing. The bright side in my mind is that because Indy has so much over engineered roadway space dedicated towards serving cars the space is there to shift towards bikeways and busways.

What we need is a the public push for more infrastructure focused on transforming the roads to be more focused on pedestrians and bicycles.

The key is that we all need to do our part and voice support away from cars and towards pedestrians wherever we can. Whenever I speak with any councilor or any form of political representative I bring up bike-ability and walkability.

I think of the lyrics from Alice’s Restaurant: “one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them. And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement”

If you drive through the residential areas of Indianapolis if you’re lucky you’ll find wide sidewalks that promote walkability. What you’ll likely find is a sliver of cement next to road posted for 35mph but engineered for 50mph and that’s what most people are doing. We can change and if we do our city will be so much better off for actual residents than it currently is.

-Nate!

Edit:

I want to add that the representatives that I have spoken to feel strongly about the vision zero plan. However we need STRONG community support throughout Indianapolis to drive change. It won’t happen today or tomorrow but just you speaking up to your local political representative will go a LONG way to supporting change in our city. Any single person that says “hey I’d like more focus on walkability” goes a long way to getting change approved.

-Nate!