Protected, separated, and beautiful
Channel: Active Towns
Date: 2021-07-30

A Dutch-inspired cycle network in one of the last places you’d expect - the home of the Indy 500 Motor Speedway. Roll through downtown Indianapolis along the beautiful Indy Cultural Trail. Definitely reminds us and others of Dutch separated infrastructure and we know that representatives from Indy traveled to The Netherlands many years ago on a PeopleForBikes infrastructure study tour. 

I was in Indy for the Walk Bike Places Conference, which was a truly special opportunity to reconnect with advocacy and active mobility professionals from around the globe and see how the Indy Cultural Trail has continued to develop and mature since last he last saw in 2018 from the PeopleForBikes Places for Bikes Conference.

As you'll quickly note, the trail is primarily a two-way cycle track or in some places a multi-use path and in a couple places a shared space (like a Dutch-style woonerf) where motor vehicles are allowed but are clearly guests. You will notice the very unique and identifiable red pavers that are used throughout the network and the beautiful greenery, frequently in the form of rain gardens that are integrated into the trail. This greenery softens the built environment, making it much more attractive and pleasurable.

I'll have a future podcast episode and profile video telling the story of the Culture Trail, their funding, and ongoing management.

For more info on the trail now go to: https://indyculturaltrail.org

Details from their site: 
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is managed by a nonprofit, Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc (ICT Inc). ICT Inc works to thoughtfully manage, maintain and continue to grow and improve all aspects of the Trail to ensure it continues to exist as a world-class public space for residents and visitors of Indianapolis.

Mission Statement
To enrich lives and connect people and places through dynamic and beautiful experiences and use the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and Pacers Bikeshare program as a catalyst for economic growth.

Vision Statement
Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc is the world class leader in urban trails and linear parks and is committed to a sustainable funding model that ensures accessible connections for future generations on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick.

https://www.walkbikeplaces.org

https://www.peopleforbikes.org

Music: Sunny Days by Jimmy Gunnarsson, Kick Turn by Diego-Martinez, and Walking Through Downtown by Lance Conrad all via https://www.storyblocks.com

All video and audio production by me, John Simmerman

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Background: Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman. I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places. 

Since that time I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities".

This is my personal Active Towns Channel and it features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.

Thanks for tuning in, I hope you find this content helpful.

Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022

Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. Any donations collected are used specifically to support the organization's mission.

To make a donation to Advocates for Healthy Communities go here: https://bit.ly/a4hc-donate