NCBC Asks Local Cities to Adopt “Slow Streets” Program
The Napa County Bicycle Coalition is formally requesting that the City of Napa and other local municipalities adopt a “Slow Streets” program, which has been successfully implemented in nearly a dozen Bay Area communities with positive results.
Since the Governor’s emergency declaration on March 4, 2020, and the subsequent Shelter at Home order by the Napa County Public Health Officer, our streets have seen a tremendous reduction in vehicle traffic. At the same time, the number of local residents using streets and trails for outdoor recreation and transportation has skyrocketed.
During the month of April, use along the Napa Valley Vine Trail at the Tulocay Creek Bridge increased by an 88% year-over- year, based on automated bike/ped counter data. Increases in walking, bicycling and trail use has been seen throughout Napa Valley.
Adoption of a Slow Streets program would support safe, accessible recreation and transportation for Napa residents and provide more space for social distancing by closing a series of identified streets to through traffic. Such a program is also intended to encourage continued active transportation use even as Napa County enters deeper levels of Phase 2 re-opening. By providing safe corridors for outdoor activities by local residents, we will be supporting community health and wellbeing. The ability to encourage more active transportation for everyday errands may also have measurable benefits to GHG reduction, by keeping vehicles off the roads.
Our list of recommended “Slow Streets” is online at https://caltopo.com/m/M7EB.
Other Communities:
Dozens of cities across the Bay Area and the United States have recently adopted Slow Streets programs, with some cities already planning for some streets to retain this classification permanently. This spreadsheet lists nearly all jurisdictions with an adopted Slow Streets program. A select number of cities that have implemented Slow Streets are also listed below, with links for more information about the program in that city.
