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What's the Problem?
Low-income individuals may be less likely to own a car and more reliant on public transit or walking/biking as a means of transportation. However, they may face greater barriers to accessing transportation options, such as limited availability of public transit in their neighborhood or lack of safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure. This can lead to a disparity in transportation access and mobility between low-income and high-income individuals, which can further exacerbate socioeconomic disparities.
The design of transportation infrastructure can also contribute to disparities. For example, bike lanes and sidewalks may be less prevalent in low-income neighborhoods, making it more difficult for residents to access transportation options or engage in active transportation. Additionally, transit systems may be designed to serve primarily high-income areas, leaving low-income residents with limited options for commuting to work or accessing essential services.
We looked on Google maps to see what is available for common people to refer to while biking around the town of Chico.At first glance this looks solid, a decent transportation route for people to utilize to commute through a small city efficiently. Now let's take a look at what these biking routes really looks like.
This is a "protected bike lane" on Camellia Way, Chico Ca.
This is what the city of Chico considers a proper bike lane.
These bike lane markings are called Buffered bike lanes, bikers are not protected by any sort of physical barrier between the cars and the bikes.
It can be hard to expect more from city planning officials when we don't even know what can even be possible.
This bike lane on Fulton st. follows the criteria needed to be a protected bike lane that efficiently protects the bikers. It also provides the drivers with enough space to not get into the bike lane and risking any accidents.
Protected bike lanes as such take intentional effort from city planning officials as it works to address the needs of all citizens whether they may be drivers, bikers or pedestrians.
This is a protected bike lane on Fulton St, Berkeley Ca.
Protected Bike Lanes Have 3 Key Characteristics:
Physical separation
Protected bike lanes have some sort of physical, stationary, vertical separation between moving motor vehicle traffic and the bike lane. Examples of vertical separation include plastic posts, bollards, curbs, planters, raised bumps or parked cars. Protected bike lanes can be at street level or raised, either to sidewalk level or a level in between street and sidewalk level. Paint alone does not create a protected bike lane.
On or adjacent to the roadway
Protected bike lanes are part of the street grid. In some instances, a protected lane may be separated from the road by landscaping or other features, but it runs parallel and proximate to the roadway. This distinguishes protected bike lanes from off-street pathways that follow waterways or rail corridors.
Exclusively for people on bikes
Protected bike lanes must define and allocate space exclusively for people on bikes, not shared with pedestrians or motorized traffic except for brief mixing zones where necessary and at intersections. If the designs are sidewalk level, there must be separate, identified space for people on bikes and people on foot in order for the facility to be considered a protected bike lane.
Ink, S. (2022, March 16). Buffered Bike Lanes. National Association of City Transportation Officials. https://nacto.org/publication/urban-bikeway-design-guide/bike-lanes/buffered-bike-lanes/
Less than 3% of the Budget for City of Chico is dedicated to Community Development. Biking falls under this section. $555,145 is the estimated amount of funds specifically designated to biking.
Project in the Works
Project in the Works
Bikeway 99
Bikeway 99
Established in 2017, the bikeway is meant to secure a safe separated path for both bikers and pedestrians over the exits for Golden State Highway and E 20th St. This project has garnered $13 million, however, the project is estimated to cost an estimated $14.7 million. This funding or rather as listed as "Funding support" comes from the Butte County Association of Governance (BCAG). Construction was supposed to begin in the Spring of 2022
Celebrating Cycling and Sustainability
Chico's Bicycle Music Festival
Chico's Bicycle Music Festival
An annual event that combines local music with sustainability practices.
Hosted by Butte Environmental Council
Happening on Saturday June 17, 2023, 11am-8pm
Starts at the farmers market ends at the corner of 4th and Flume
Using a pedal power stage with performers
Volunteer pedal their bikes to power the stage during the event
Link to YouTube video: Chico Bicycle Music Festival
Blog:✨City Gworlz Biking Initiative ✨
Coolidge, Andrew et al. 2022. “City of Chico Annual Budget 2022-2023.”
Donkken Engineering. 2017. "20th Street Pedestrian/Bicycle Overcrossing Feasibility Study/ Project Study Report Equivalent"
Butte Environmental Council. 2023. "Chico Bicycle Music Festival"
Images sourced from Google Images as well as the PDFs as listed below
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