What to do with failing suburban malls?

[dougskiles]

From the New York Times:

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/new-lives-for-dead-suburban-malls/?emc=eta1

Interesting concept, but what I particularly liked was this quote:

“If we’ve learned one thing about behavior change over the past 50 years, it’s that knowledge is not enough to bring about change,” said Laura Carstensen, director of the Center on Longevity at Stanford University. “Humans are exquisitely sensitive to environments. If there are mostly fast food restaurants in their neighborhood, they eat fast food. If there are safe and appealing paths, they take walks.”
(emphasis added)

It speaks to more than just this issue about suburban malls.  I am reminded of a recent meeting I attended about bicycle advocacy (the re-incarnation of the BPAC).  Eventually the focus turned toward a safety awareness program educating drivers about bicycling and 'sharing the road'.  Lost my interest completely because it was a room full of people who already were willing to risk their lives riding on the road with cars.  I think the desire to implement a 'safety awareness program' was mostly driven by the fact that it would be easier and less expensive.  But the reality is that if we want to make it safer for bicyclists and encourage more people to ride bikes that the only way to do that is to build a network of safe, dedicated bicycle routes.  Changing the environment, as stated in the quote above.

[spuwho]

But the reality is that if we want to make it safer for bicyclists and encourage more people to ride bikes that the only way to do that is to build a network of safe, dedicated bicycle routes.  Changing the environment, as stated in the quote above.

Agreed. It is possible. The path they added alongside Kernan from UNF to Atlantic is a perfect example.

While many look at Rails to Trails (Baldwin Trail) or circular paths inside local/state parks, (Hanna Park) the largest opportunity for bike/walking trails is actually on JEA rights of way throughout Duval County.

Many authorities have found tremendous success working out a pathing agreement with their local utilities. The utility likes it as the DOT pays for a path that the they can use to get their maintenance trucks in and out to service their infrastructure.

The paths can then be used to provide connectivity to rail trails, parks, city centers, even shopping malls.

A good example would be DuPage County in northern Illinois. They started in 1965 when the CA&E Interurban was converted to a regional bike trail (Illinois Prairie Path). This provided a bike "freeway" by which other cities, park districts, etc. could use their local ROW or using utilities ROW to provide connectivity to/from the main path.

They later added the Chicago & Great Western Trail (on the old C&GW ROW) and it has become a major bike/jogger/walking arterial network.

See the map here:

http://www.co.dupage.il.us/emplibrary/BikewaysDuPage2009.pdf

They key to this network is the shared use agreement they have with the utility Exelon (Com Ed). DuPDOT paves the paths, Exelon can access their high voltage lines more easily.

I think it is completely possible to perform the same thing in NE Florida. It would require cooperation between, FDOT, JTA and JEA with more than just lip service from the local leadership.