“Our density on the ocean front has increased, but the
capacity of our streets really hasn’t followed suit,” said
Myrtle Beach planner Kelly Mezzapelle. “We need to
make the area more walkable so people don’t have to
get in their cars and drive everywhere they want to go.”
(For more on Myrtle Beach walkability improvements
proposed to the city by the local REALTORS® association, see the story on page 58)
Indianapolis, Ind., has attracted international attention
with its Cultural Trail, an eight-mile bike and pedestrian pathway linking six cultural districts in the city’s
downtown area. The Cultural Trail connects museums,
galleries, theaters, a growing restaurant scene, bars and
other attractions.
Planners from U.S. cities and as far away as Cologne,
Germany, have visited Indianapolis to see how the
trail can serve as a model for similar projects in their
communities. In 2015, Smart Growth America rated
the Indianapolis Complete Streets Policy the best in
the nation. Because of the Cultural Trail, the New
York Times put Indianapolis on its list of 52 places to
visit in 2015.
The Times said planners are flocking to Indianapolis
“to see how the city most famous for a 500-mile car
race managed to swap autos for bike lanes and still keep
everything rolling smoothly.”
Karen Haley, executive director of Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc., said the trail combines the latest and
best facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians. She said the
trail is wider than a typical sidewalk, shared by bikes
and pedestrians, protected by curbs and separated from
the street in places by a botanical garden. Haley said the
trail cost $63 million, including $4 million for public art,
all of which came from private donors or federal grants.
“No local tax dollars were spent to build the Cultural
Trail,” she said.”
”It’s helped put Indianapolis on the map in terms of a city
that’s getting it right when it comes to urban development
and connectivity,” Haley said. “It really is allowing you
to visit or work in our city without owning a vehicle.”
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail
can serve as a model for similar
projects in other communities.
Courtesy of Visit Indy
Courtesy of Visit Indy
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail combines the latest and
best facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.