Sharing is Caring: Bike Edition

          Public transportation allows for quick and easy access to predetermined locations. Once you arrive at your stop, you generally have to take one step further to get to your final destination. This can be spent walking, or, in some cities, biking. For those who do not have a bike, but want to do some easy physical activity, a bike share is the best choice. With its relative ease, and affordability, it can become an afternoon adventure.
          Recently, when I was in Washington DC, I decided I wanted to explore my surrounding area. Rather than walk, which would have forced me to stay relatively close to my place of stay, I walked a block to a bike share stand. A collection of bikes awaited me, along with a map of the city marking where different stands were available. Within two minutes I was on the road. As I biked around the city I never went five minutes without seeing a stand where I could drop my bike off and be on my way. The people I saw taking advantage of this bike share system were not only tourists, but residents of the DC metro area, and friends out for a weekend adventure. The bike share program in DC made access to the city readily available.
          Similar Bike Share initiatives have sprouted up in Boston, New York, Denver, and Tampa. All of these bike share programs have faced their fair share of problems, whether it be technical, or monetary, but all have seen success. Providence, and the surrounding communities would be an ideal place to add to the list of cities with bike shares. Bike share stands could be downtown, college hill, the east side, Blackstone Boulevard, India Point park, Hope Street, Smith Hill, Federal Hill, and throughout the rest of Providence. A fixed destination point could draw new businesses to cater to those who take advantage of the system, invigorating the economy and small business growth.

          Starting a Bike Share program takes the public's support, months of preparation, and considerable sums of money. While the startup of such a program would be difficult, the possible benefits to come would support, and provide growth for surrounding communities. 

Streetcars in the City

     In Providence, there is one public transportation option, the RIPTA buses (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority). With RIPTA I can't help but feel an air of uncertainty while waiting next to a pole with a small square on the top saying RIPTA. The schedule is confusing, and routes can change on a whim, leaving you standing with questions. RIPTA is quick, and easy (if you have experience with it) but with new users, it can seem confusing and overwhelming. In the past there have been major overhauls of RIPTA, with new schedules, new plans for Kennedy Plaza, and new routes.

     But, what if we went back to Providence's roots, and introduced a new public transportation system, streetcars. There has been some chatter about introducing streetcars into Providence, with routes bringing you to Thayer St. on the East Side, throughout Downtown, as well as Upper South Providence. With the presence of a track, the route cannot be changed, only the times, but without the risks involved with busses, times would change infrequently. Because of the small amount of stops, there would be a shelter for users of the system, making it more comfortable, and more expected to see a streetcar arriving in a short amount of time.

     Streetcars would also connect downtown in a way that hasn't been seen. With the fixed route, the storefronts directly around the route would see an influx of people. Examples of this working can be seen Portland, Oregon, with a 40% rise in density, and $3.5 billion in new development. The initiation of streetcars in Providence would immediately create many new jobs, and cause a surge in business in the downtown area, as well as anywhere the street cars go. With the revenue created through taxes, and the revitalization of businesses along the route Providence could have a chance at getting it's financial troubles under control.

With the ease an accessibility streetcars bring, it would be foolish to not pursue their presence throughout Providence and neighboring cities.