Edina Case Study: Findings & RecommendationsHennepin County Bicycle Advisory Committee

February 22, 2010 PresentationContact: Kirk Johnson, Bike Edina Task Force

Agenda

• Biking Timeline (2 -5 minutes)

• Biking Community: How involved (5 – 10 minutes)

• 2010 and beyond Goals (5 minutes)

• Community Advocacy Vision for Hennepin County (10 minutes)

Purpose: Highlights findings from Edina’s experience with improving bicycling for the community.

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Time Line of Our AccomplishmentsBike/Walk Promenade

City Management & Engineering City Council,

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Culture Change Needed…Some challenges Edina were recognized in 2006 when considering biking as a sustainable, healthy transportation choice…. Car-based infrastructure

No on-road bicycle lanes

No published bicycle routes

No designated “Safe Routes to Schools” routes

Bicycle parking inadequate at many parks,

schools, work places

No community bicycling groups or advocacy

Image from City of Edina Comprehensive Bicycle Plan

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Culture Change Supported…In 2006 a catalyst was the 2006 Community Attitude & Interest Citizen Survey for Edina: “Walking and Biking Trails” most important overall

As a result, Edina’s leadership (Mayor, City Manager, Engineering, Park & Recreation, and others supported the overall needs with high-level planning)

Bicycle Friendly: Why it matters • Edina Planning Commission objectives• Edina resident 2006 survey: Demand• Property & social value: “Active living” • Values for:

• Transportation• Recreation• Environment• Health

Bike Edina CommunityIncludes residents, leaders, elected officials…

• Vision is a progressive bicycle-friendly community where citizens can integrate cycling into their daily lives.

• Mission: Implement the approved City of Edina Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan that supports all levels of bicyclists, connects key destinations including safe routes to schools, and integrates with the Twin Cities’ regional bike network.

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Culture Change: Help from the top-down

“Develop and maintain a coordinated and balanced

transportation system that provides a variety of choices

among transportation modes.”

“Improve community health and fitness.”

“Maintain a quality, sustainable environment.”

2008 City of Edina Comprehensive Plan objectives:

Photo courtesy Kirk Johnson

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Culture Change Initiated …Part I of IIIn 2006 the City of Edina initiated the Bike Edina Task Force, whose vision was “…a progressive bicycle-friendly community where citizens can integrate cycling into their daily lives.”

Photo courtesy Kirk Johnson

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In 2007 the City of Edina allocated grant money from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to hire Community Design Group to work with the Bike Edina Task Force to develop a Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan with these goals:

A portion of BETF and Community Design Group members

in spring of 2007 to commence building the City of Edina

Bicycle Plan

Increase safety for cyclists

Improve connections within Edina

Improve connections to adjoining

communities and regional bicycle

networks

Increase opportunities for active living

Increase opportunities for bicycling as

transportation option

Culture Change Initiated …Part II of II

Photos courtesy Kirk Johnson

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Community Engagement

1. Group Rides

2. Education

3. Relationships with City staff

4. Partner with local groups

5. Seek citizen input

6. Assist with implementing the plan

7. Communicate via digital tools

The Bike Edina Task Force joined forces with Community Design Group and other stakeholders to engage the community in a variety of ways to build awareness about our transportation goals.

Approaches that worked for us (examples on next slides):

Photo courtesy Kirk Johnson

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Engagement Activity #1: Lead Community Rides

BETF led weekly community rides (26 total) in the first half of 2007 to gain awareness, promote interest and visibility. We’ve established several annual events and ongoing ride activities, such as “Annual Ride with the Mayor & City Council”

Edina Polar Bear RidePhoto courtesy S. Jefferson

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Engagement Activity #2: Educate Young & OldBETF partnering with youth

organizers for a “Bicycle Rodeo”

BETF members educated at dozens of public forums including adults, kids, bicycling clubs, and several journalism forums 2007-8

BETF preparing to present Bike

Commuting topics

Photos courtesy Kirk Johnson

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Engagement Activity #3: Build Rapport with City Staff

BETF enjoys “Ride with the Mayor” in 2008

Discussing multi-purpose trail near rail line…City Council members, City Engineer, Educators, residents, and more participated

BETF members met with City Council informally over coffee, breakfast, and frequent communications to build relationships, get input, and socialize parts of the Bike Plan

Photos courtesy Alex Johnson

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Engagement Activity #4: Partner with Local Groups

BETF Partners with South View

Middle School bicycling

community service project

BETF partnered with many local and neighboring community groups in 2007-2008

BETF joins local Rotary Club on

various biking progress and

opportunities

Photos Courtesy Kirk Johnson

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Engagement Activity #5: Seek Citizen Input

BETF/CDG Bike Plan Input & Bike Art

BETF hosted information tables at all City Comprehensive Planning Quadrant Meetings, various public forums, and engaged citizens to attend specific City Hall meetings

Open Houses: Input on Nine Mile Creek Trail “Design

Charrette” with Three Rivers Park District

Photos Courtesy Kirk Johnson

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Engagement Activity #6: Prioritize, Divide, and ConquerEvery priority requires community support for success: BETF updates and communicates formally its priority plans and progress to City Manager, Mayor, City Council, Transportation Commission, and other stakeholders

Excerpt from 2008 BETF Meeting Minutes

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Engagement Activity #7: Communicate & Presence

Community Website

BETF promotes a “brand” and connects with residents via websites, blogs, and other digital media. Objective is to ensure transparency and continuous news & feedback for a growing bicycle community.

Blog with Comment Area

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OutcomeUltimately the hard work paid off: The plan was submitted in 2007 and approved in 2008. Today, in 2010, the BETF still exists and is 15 members strong.

Because of community engagement and support…

Edina implemented its first on-road bicycle lanes on Interlachen Boulevard. Also completed the “Edina Promenade project” and approved bike lanes on West 70th Street

Edina designed and implemented its first “Share the Road” signs for Wooddale Avenue.

Edina received a $250,000 grant from Transit for Livable Communities for bike improvements (March 2009)

BETF is actively pursuing 10 bicycle projects related to education (including Safe Routes to Schools), infrastructure, and promotion.

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What Did We Learn? • Quantify demand and benefits• Build a plan• Organize support

• Grassroots • City management• Elected officials

• Apply for grants• Hire professionals when possible• Communicate results• Celebrate achievements• Formalize an advocacy/advisory group

Examples of planning and vision that are now represented in the Bike Plan:

Photo courtesy Kirk Johnson

Photo courtesy Alex Johnson

Bike Edina Community: 2010 & Beyond Objectives

• Engineering: – Share the Road: Additional signs– Bike Lanes: More coming– Promenade: Completed! – Phase I: $250,000 Grant – focus in 2010– Support for Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail– Support for CP Rail Line Regional Trail

• Education:– Monthly Edina Skills Rides: Continue– Safe Routes to Schools: Pilot activities– Bike Rodeo: April – Articles, Channel 16 – ongoing – Rules of the Road Quiz

• Encouragement: – Bike Map: New in 2009! Printed 20,000– Annual Ride with the Mayor and City Council– Annual Ride to the Greenway and other rides– Partner with Bicycle Alliance of MN and HCBAC to create

more groups so that we can share findings, exchange support, and ultimately make it easy for more people to bike more often throughout Hennepin County

• Enforcement: – Police Department training (IBMBA)– Police visibility at bike events

• Evaluation: – Bicycle Traffic Counts: Annual since 2007– Future Surveys? – Recommend to update /amend Bike Plan in 2011

Bike Edina Task Force• Accountable to City Manager as BETF

Liaison, coordinates each activity (e.g., Safe Routes to Schools, Bike Maps, bike parking, media outreach, etc.) through a City staff sponsor.

• Promote safe biking through community outreach and education.

• Act as a liaison between the various City departments and the community

• Keep informed of the efforts of other communities to promote safe biking or to encourage the broader adoption of bicycling as a form of exercise or as a method of commuting or other travel.

• Promote integration of appropriate city, state or national initiatives (e.g. Complete Streets) into Edina’s planning for bicycling.

Source: BETF Bylaws

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Contacts & References Kirk Johnson is an all-season bicycle commuter since 2006. As a citizen volunteer, he chairs the Bike Edina Task Force, and served on the Hennepin County Bicycle Advisory Committee 2008 to 2010.

Kirk is involved with bicycle transportation as a lifestyle and is committed to improving the viability for biking as a popular transportation option for current and future generations. Kirk is a software project manager and has a wife and three school-aged kids.

Kirk.Johnson@LoganLogic.com Cell: 612-916-9966

Photo courtesy Alex Johnson

Bike Edina is a community that includes the Bike Edina Task Force, residents, City leaders, and various stakeholders. Visit us at www.BikeEdina.org

Community Design Group (www.c-d-g.org ) was Edina’s engineering consultant that expertly produced our City of Edina Bicycle Transportation Plan. CDG continues to partner with the City in many aspects. Contact Antonio Rosell, Director at 612-354-2901 or the site above.

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