WorldCafe: TRANSPORTATION (1)(2) & (3)

WC: TRANSPORTATION (#1)

Participants???

EXCERPT: Priorities

• Expand bus system
• Build sidewalks
• Transportation sales tax
• Sunday bus service
• Integrated green transit advocacy

CHAS’S NOTE: Carol Wilson signed off on the table notes. Can she tell me who else was involved at that table? I see that most of your priorities are focused on solutions government must finally approve. Key to getting government to move will be mobilizing a large enough crowd of supporters. If this work doesn’t appeal, what are the grassroots options? What might community organizers suggest? Would the solutions differ by neighborhood or by age demographic?

WC: TRANSPORTATION (#2)

Participants???

EXCERPT: Priorities

· Learn from other cities

· Liberty Bikes (Claudia Nix) has lots to teach

· Study existing bike plan

· Quality Forward/Asheville, now Greenworks, as working partner

· Stay in touch with City's transit community

· Land of Sky Regional Council

CHAS’S NOTE: Are any of the folks at your table pursuing any of these ideas? Gathering more people interested in Transition transportation issues would probably help to get more of this agenda underway.

WC: TRANSPORTATION (#3)

Participants???

EXCERPT: Benchmarks

One year Benchmarks:

Congress of Green Transport groups to asvocate alternatives to private cars (reduce anxiety to change)

Legislative campaign of personal input (every 5 years National Transportation Bill)

Five year Benchmarks:

Passenger rail in Asheville, bicycle friendly

All buses on alternative fuel and more buses

CHAS’S NOTE: I’d be surprised if your group didn’t have some conversation about the priority of ideas/projects. What do you think are the best next steps for each or all of you? Seems like networking with others talking about transportation ideas at the World Café would be a good start.

________________________________________

COMPLETE NOTES
Transportation (1)

Question #1:

Consequences:

• Drive less with planning and prioritization
• More carpooling
• More bus demand/overstress system
• More biking
• Distant employment-àjob loss
• Less discretionary spending à job loss
• Short term bike safety crisis
• Cleaner air
• Less fossil fuel use
• Quieter
• More interest in peak oil and transition
• More pressure for oil wars
• More pressure for 'drill, drill, drill'

Benefits and opportunities:

• Walking --for health
• More bike sales and repairs
• More critical mass for bike/ped./car safely training and outreach
• More rail interest
• More family time
• More neighborhood time

Question #2:

Planning ahead to ease transition

Crisis plans already written

Mediation training

Bus rider training and incentives

Facilitate green transit job creation

Sidewalk building and maintenance

Marketing and education

Accelerate bike plan implementation

Bike harassment law

Bike/pedestrian transition plan and incentive package

Scooters and mopeds and education

Priorities:

• Expand bus system
• Build sidewalks
• Transportation sales tax
• Sunday bus service
• Integrated green transit advocacy

[Signed off by Carol Wilson ]

COMPLETE NOTES
Transportation (2):

Question #1:

Centralized transportation

Public transportation affected pro and con

Fuel alternativesàmore research

Shared rides

School buses? -à move to alcohol based fuel

More bicycling and walking

Need for local production of food

Seasonal diet

More greenhouses --à extending season

More gardening

More exercise

Air travel-à lessened and more expensive

Question#2:

Call-in center for all ground transportation in Asheville area

Car-pool database---àtailgate outreach

ZIM of West Asheville

Zip Cars (electric)

Bicycles free at kiosk

More bike lanes (along streamways or on some sidewalks, not competing with autos)

More sidewalks

Allow sharing taxi rides in city ordinance

Question #3:

Learn from other cities

Liberty Bikes (Claudia Nix) has lots to teach

Study existing bike plan

Quality Forward/Asheville Greenworks as working partner

Stay in touch with City's transit community

Land of Sky Regional Council

COMPLETE NOTES
Transportation (3):

[Chas: These folks came up with their own format!! (Happy renegades!)]

Skills:

Safe bike riding

Sensitive car driving

Discover best practices elsewhere

Car sharing classes

Acquisition (Materials):

Private car share centers (owner gets $ from rider/regulated hitchhiking spots)

Collective car owning

Data base for carpooling

Couch surf style data base for (one shot) ride share

Allies:

City of Asheville

Liberty Bikes (Claudia Nix)

Bike shop network/ Recyclery

Monthly Pedestrian/Bicyclist meetings

"Bring Back WNC Rails" Facebook page

Canary Coalition

Land of Sky Regional Council on Ground Transportation

Metropolitan Planning Organization (Federal $, requires democratic community participation)

Jim Bartonà offers 1-2 hour classes on recent history events in public transportation

One year Benchmarks:

Congress of Green Transport groups to asvocate alternatives to private cars (reduce anxiety to change)

Legislative campaign of personal input (every 5 years National Transportation Bill)

Five year Benchmarks:

Passenger rail in Asheville, bicycle friendly

All buses on alternative fuel and more buses