I Like Bicycles and Small Towns

I like to bike, as in pedal a bicycle.  I don’t race and I don’t try to go 100 miles in any one day.  I ride into town, go to the store, to the park, and every now and then just ride around the neighborhood.  I ride because it is practical, extremely low cost, does not pollute, does not take 4 or more lanes of highway and I can often get where I’m going faster than driving my car.  OK, I also think it is fun but as an engineer, I am internally forced to find utilitarian excuses to justify my fun.


It is also healthier for me and everyone around.  I am pretty sure you won’t die if I crash into you.  You probably don't have to worry about it at all as the odds are pretty good I won't crash.  I am not listening to the radio or talking on my cell phone and the only entertainment center on my bike is whatever is around me while I ride.  Car drivers seem to not be paying as much attention to what is happening around them as I am while I ride my bike.  Of course if I get hit by a car, I am going to get hurt.

The world's largest reported traffic jam.

Those of us who grew up and live in Michigan know that our history is based on cars.  My father and grandfather both worked for auto companies.  I own a car, a pickup truck and a tractor.  I have nothing against cars as long as there are options and the provisions for cars do not take away from other less costly ways of getting around.


The problem is that cars are expensive, gas is expensive, insurance is expensive, parking is expensive, roads are expensive and if there is an accident, it is expensive.  We all have to pay a lot of these expenses whether we drive a car or not.  We all must have car insurance in Michigan if we have a car.  We all pay taxes of one kind or another that go for roads and maintenance of those roads.

I do realize there are times in Michigan and elsewhere when you need a car, like that business trip to Kalamazoo or when the snow or rain really discourages me from riding or walking anywhere.

So back to Big Ideas in Small Towns, or for that matter bigger towns.  While this is certainly not a new idea, how about living close enough to where you work and shop so that a car makes little or no sense?

As reported in Salon, cities may further limit the speed of cars, as if heavy traffic is not already doing that, and in the future urban bikers go faster than cars.  The Village of Clarkston has been wishing for slower and less vehicle traffic for as long as I can remember.  Maybe now is the time and if a lot of us rode our bikes there would be more parking for those that don’t.  Those of us on bikes may still be able to park closer.

The Dutch went from bicycles to cars and are now switching back to bicycles.  They even posted a video for it.

StreetsBlog Network provides more evidence that bike lanes are good for local businesses.  So does This Big City in an article titled Local Economic Implications of Urban Bicycle Networks.

More bikes on the street could translate into money in the bank local business

I don't think the Village of Clarkston is ready for a bicycle network but believe it or not there have been some discussions even in our little City/Village of 882 residents.

This does not need to be any single government effort and probably shouldn't be.  I also don't think my small town will ever become a bicycle mecca, although that would be nice.  I see it as more of a collective resolution that there may be something better than what we have been doing.   Perhaps if your town and my town agree, and make at least some reasonable accommodations, I could ride to your town and you could ride to mine.  This seems like a far better solution than millions of dollars in paving for exclusive use by millions of dollars in cars and trucks, all maintained by millions of tax dollars, and fueled by millions of oil dollars.

A major economic transition to be sure but do we really need millions of dollars spent to go to the store for $20 worth of groceries and why is it  better to have more paving instead of less?  Now all I need to do is convince everyone else. 


I think I need to go for a ride and think about what I am getting myself into.

Clarkston Center for the Performing Arts

Cities were, and to some extent are, defined by the cultural amenities that exist within their borders.  The City of the Village of Clarkston, my home, separated itself from the surrounding "Clarkston" area in 1992 by becoming a city instead of simply a village within the surrounding Township of Independence.  An ironic play on words as the Village of Clarkston became independent from Independence. 


While this is a story of its own, and one I will delve into in future posts, what happened culturally is that new and larger edifices were built outside the newly organized City of the Village of Clarkston as Independence Township grew.  The Library, Fire Department and Sheriff, to name a few, all moved outside of the newly formed City.  The Township grew while the City had no room to grow as is was essentially built out.


Today the City of the Village of Clarkston has no formal place of cultural enjoyment, other than the historical nature of the City.  There is not even a place for public assembly other than the Village Hall which is attached to one of the two Department of Public Works (DPW) garages.  The Village Hall can hold about 20 to 30 people and some of those people  will be standing.


There is an effort underway to change this.  The Clarkston Conservatory of Music had considered building a performance hall and allowing use for public meetings and assembly.  The declining economy of the early 21st century hindered those plans.  The Clarkston Village Players are presently located outside the City of the Village of Clarkston but would like to improve their theater and perhaps be in the city with better parking, restaurants and related amenities.  The two organizations joined forces and a new organization, the Clarkston Center for the Performing Arts, was formed to combine their goals and build a performing arts center in downtown Clarkston.  A place for theater, music and other fine arts.  It could also provide a formal meeting place within the City.


An organizational structure was formed and plans were created through the generosity of local residents.  Fund raising is now going on.  


Whether the Village of Clarkston can survive as an independent City or not is a matter that will be discussed in some detail in the very near future.  Whether they can or not, this should not diminish the need for a performing arts venue and a place for public assembly.  Even better that this be located in the historic and cultural center of "Clarkston" which is where it historically and economically should be.


If you agree, please contact any of the participating organizations noted above.  If you have a comment, put it on this blog or contact any of the organizations.  It is important regardless of your political opinions and objections.  Presently it is completely funded by private funds, not government taxes.  it will exist because the people want it.      

Getting started: Blogging about big ideas for small towns

Check out the case study that inspired me

Searching for other things, and not really having a clue how this blog thing works, I came across Small Towns, Big Ideas.  It sounded familiar.

Check out this case study on big ideas for small towns, and leave a comment with any big ideas you might have for our small City of (the Village of) Clarkston.

Why I am blogging from the Village of Clarkston

This is the second post after some time as I just never got back to doing this.  Not a good sign.  A friend has again encouraged me to blog since I was commenting on everything and doing it almost everywhere.  The subjects will be varied.  Streets, sidewalks, bicycles, government, lack of good government, sustainability, organic everything, and the list goes on.

Unhappy with your government?  I'm probably on your side.

Do you think nothing can be done and complaining is a waste of time?
You may be right but nothing will change by doing nothing.

Taxes too high?  Find out where the money is being spent.

It is all public information and should be available to everyone.  If you can't find out, your government has a problem.

More importantly, I hope to provide information, articles, quotes and inspiration that it all works together.  One problem causes others.  One solution can lead to others.

Most recently I commented on the Oakland Press editorial that suggested trees be removed to allow for power lines (www.theoaklandpress.com).  My response on Facebook at least got a response from the newspaper.  I thought there should be a retraction since it was so distant from anyone's reality.

Hopefully the discussion will continue.