Photos from a Platinum Bike City: Davis, CA

Monday, July 23, 2007

Photos from a Platinum Bike City: Davis, CA

That's a bus shelter ad from Davis, CA - which according to the League of American Bicyclists is the only Platinum Bicycle city in the U.S. I was there this weekend and in a whirlwind visit and tried to document as much of the city and bike amenities as possible in 36 hours. I really needed to spend another few days, but when I finish the vid I'm sure it will show you how much this city is in love with and has a real deep commitment to bicycling as everyday use, culture and recreation.

After the jump below, check out more photos I snapped while not holding my videocamera. (BTW: I took most of these photos very early on a Sunday, no, the town is not as deserted as it appears!)

Yes, that is how all the signs greet you when entering Davis from any direction. I detected almost no animonsity between peds/bikes/drivers there. Probably because all users obeys traffic laws and cyclists are given so many safe bicycling routes to get around.

Bike art and glyphs are everywhere in Davis. And they have their own Wiki bike pages!

There are an abundance of separated bicycle paths/greenways throughout the city. Anywhere you live in Davis you are a very short, safe distance away from getting a no-stress commute to work, school, play... about 25% of all grade-school students in Davis bike there daily and it is obvious why parents let them do so. Amazingly, the city voted to do away with schoolbuses some time ago.

Several streets between the UC Davis campus and downtown are bicycle priority streets, using traffic calming and traffic diverters like the one above to keep thru-traffic out. Depending who you talk to or what stats you consult, 15-20% of all trips in Davis are done by bike. There is an amazing bike network there. To download a PDF, go here.

Running red lights will cost you in Davis. Most are monitored by photo cameras. Can't imagine how much $370 equates to in NYC.

There is bike parking EVERYWHERE. I mean it, the town's officials told me it is required in planning. You'll find ample bike parking at movie theaters, bookstores, restaurants, Taco Bells, parks, strip malls, schools, and yes even the Rite Aid (by the way, this was only one of three rack areas at that Rite Aid!)

Juicy, verdant neckdowns greet you crossing almost every intersection downtown. The gateways practically invite you to cross. And as designed, pedestrians are drawn to use them as I saw almost no mid-block crossing done while was there. Well except by me your typical New Yorker.

More art from Davis...well check back next week for the video...

http://sustainableflatbush.org Anne (www.sustainableflatbush.org)

i rode to staples on fourth avenue in brooklyn last week and there was NO WHERE to park my bike, in the midst of a very large (auto) parking lot. sigh... we have such a long way to go!
http://www.livablestreets.com/people/trorb/ Clarence Eckerson, Jr.

And the saddest thing of all: that Staples had a long bike rack in front of the store when they first opened. Then they moved it to the side, then it disappeared. I once asked the store manager about it and he denied they ever had a bike rack.
Pingback: Streetsblog » Welcome to Davis, California: A Bicycle Friendly Town()
http://www.walkableneighborhoods.com Eric Fredericks

Hi Clarence,

I love your work and will be excited to see what you produce about Davis, my neighbor city. It's truly a fantastic place for bicycling.

If you get the chance, come visit us in Sacramento. I feel that, at least in the central core, we're more pedestrian-friendly than Davis in many rights. Drop me a line if you'd like a tour.
Chris in Sacramento

Davis, certainly a worthy Streetfilms subject, has been resting on its laurels for many years, and its standing as the undisputed US leader in bicycling is threatened.

In recent years, many suburbanites from the East Bay have discovered Davis's cuteness and outstanding public schools and have moved in with their housing cash-outs and SUV-oriented lifesyles. As the wealth of the city's full-time residents (and UC Davis students) has risen, bicycling's mode share has fallen. Also, plentiful free auto parking downtown incentivizes driving. After the retirement 7-8 years back of visionary city traffic engineer Dave Pelz, the city traffic bureaucracy has taken a more traditional approach to street (and community) design.

Still, however up-for-grabs the future may be, there is no question that Davis today remains a darn good place for bicycling for people of nearly all ages and abilities.
David Warren

One of my goals is to make New York City a larger version of Davis. Then spread it to other urban cities
Chris in Sacramento

"One of my goals is to make New York City a larger version of Davis."

ONE of your goals??!!

Wow, I love that ambition!

After that, what's next, the easy stuff like curing cancer? 😉
Chris in NYC

I'm a Davis native; I think Chris in Sacramento is right on--Davis is becoming more of a commuter suburb and bicycling is on the decline. The 15 percent of trips by bicycle refers to commuting only (according to the 2000 census). The percent of all trips by bicycle is presumbably lower. Maintaining a bicycle culture requires political commitment, not just physical infrastructure.
http://www.asanacycles.com SelfPropelledDevo

Uhhh...
I went to Embasy Suites here in Seaside, ca for deal about the Tour of California, seaside stage #4, and guess what?
no bike parking!
lol
there i am the only one that doesnt own a car.
i had to laff
peace...d
DaveRockwood

I understand that the long-time Davis cycling community should be concerned about the changing demographics and planning emphasis in their city. But for we in the midwest who are struggling to get any bike facilities and three percent of commuters to use bikes this sounds like a reason to celebrate rather than to lament: "The 15 percent of trips by bicycle refers to commuting only" You are so far ahead of most of the cities in this country, Davis, and you should'nt take it for granted. Keep pushing to make it better, but don't lament how good you've got it!
Christa

I went to UC Davis and lived in the town for five years. I didn't think about urban cycling at the time - I just did it because it was easy, convenient and cheap.

Now that I've moved away, I'm addicted to urban cycling! I can't imagine life without cycling and I expect other cities to be as bike-friendly.

I imagine a lot of students leave the city with a change in lifestyle.

I am so grateful to the city and it's fantastic design.

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