Christine Moore.
By Christine Moore
In Summary:
In her column, former Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore reflects on lessons from urban planning author Chuck Marohn and the Strong Towns movement, which advocates for walkable, financially resilient communities. Moore says that encouraging more walking and biking can improve public health, foster stronger community connections, and help address transportation challenges as Central Florida continues to grow. She also invites residents to join a community bike ride from Apopka Station to Magnolia Park Eco-Education Center on June 20.
*****
Chuck Marohn captured my attention in chapter 10 of his book Confessions of a Recovering Engineer on transportation technology. Marohn posits that "transportation technology has the potential to revolutionize a community”. These improvements can attract business investment, create jobs, and provide breakthroughs in technology, mathematics, the physical sciences, the arts, and literature. Marohn claims this transportation innovation serves youth and the elderly to become more mobile and self-reliant. He also cites statistics that this transportation methodology will attract young professionals and high-wage earners.
Related: Data Centers: When the decision is too big for the city.
What transportation improvement is Marohn talking about?
A GOOD WALK or BIKE RIDE
Marohn also adds that very few chronic problems cannot be alleviated by people walking a mile or two each day. Seeing our neighbors in shared spaces improves our sense of community. Walking makes us more aware of neighborhood issues.
Making walking and biking easier is one of the easiest and highest-return investments. At Tuesday’s Orange County Government NOWOCATS Community Meeting on transportation needs and roadway failures by 2050, I left knowing that the potential of statewide property tax reform, widening roadways, will become nearly impossible, if not totally impossible. So, how about a bit more walking and biking?
Obviously, biking and walking will not solve all our local congestion. Nevertheless, the Strong Towns movement believes any successful action to address community challenges has four steps: humbly observing where people struggle, asking what the next smallest thing is that could be done, doing that small thing, and repeating the process.
The Strong Towns organization, based out of northern Minnesota, is anchored by six foundational principles: financial solvency, land stewardship, transportation, economic growth, strong citizens, and the primacy of local government.
I am learning these community-building principles. I recently attended the Strong Towns National Conference in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Upon returning, I started a monthly bike excursion club. I purchased an e-bike, and that has made riding a breeze. This Saturday, June 20, we will depart from Apopka Station at 9:00 am and take a short tour of the Magnolia Park Eco-Education Center. We will bike back for a Dutch-treat lunch at the Naughty Lobster.
Please join us. The group has a diverse skill level of participants - experienced cyclists, to those who haven’t biked since they were children. We will be wearing orange shirts and leave sharply at 9:00 am from Apopka Station on Forest Avenue.
Key Points:
- Christine Moore says walkability and bike infrastructure can provide significant economic and community benefits.
- The Strong Towns movement promotes transportation investments that improve financial resilience and quality of life.
- Moore believes widening roads alone will not solve Central Florida's long-term traffic challenges.
- Walking and biking can improve public health, increase social connections, and help residents become more mobile and self-reliant.
- Moore is organizing a community bike ride from Apopka Station to Magnolia Park Eco-Education Center on June 20.
