Transportation + infrastructure
Throughout the US , the interest in creating more walkable communities is intensifying. Residents, including the increasing population of older adults, recognize the value of walking and biking for personal health and wellness, and see the larger community benefits of reducing emissions and improving air quality. Contrast this intense interest with our vehicle-centric culture that enjoys the convenience and efficiency of fast-food drive-thru restaurants and coffee shops. While drive-thrus have been in our communities for a long time–the first drive-thru opened in Texas in 1921, but the trend picked up steam in the 1970s as McDonald’s opened its first drive-thru in 1975–the drive-thru has become standard practice for nearly every fast-food restaurant, but in many instances results in shrinking interior restaurant seating, or no seating, as national chains explore offering drive-thru service only. While fast-food restaurants, the majority of which are owned by national chains, insist that drive-thrus are essential for business, they bring a host of safety challenges for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, as well as increased emissions from idling vehicles. More land is consumed for vehicle stacking to keep waiting cars from extending into the roadway, as well as accommodating bypasses or “bailouts” to let drivers out of the queue, if needed. Despite some communities prohibiting drive-thrus, it is clear that in most places communities are hesitant to discourage uses that the market demands. If drive-thrus are here to stay, how can communities address the land use conflicts that limit desired improvements to walkability? First, communities should recognize the impacts of auto-centric uses on walkability and then create and implement comprehensive land use policies and zoning regulations. Of drive-thrus and downtowns Revival of community downtown areas and the creation of new commercial corridors in suburban areas coincides with renewed interest in walkable communities. Long magnets for community engagement, downtowns and shopping districts generally feature a variety of shops and restaurants, some of which provide quick meals that can be satisfying alternatives to drive-thrus. When a community resident or visitor has a meal at a local restaurant in a dynamic downtown or commercial district, they may engage with other local businesses and register the community as a place of interest Achieving Balance Among Drive-thrus and Walkable Communities by Jill Bahm, AICP, Partner, Giffels Webster
The Bozeman, Montana images are of the Café M in downtown Bozeman
for a future visit. Engagement with local restaurants and businesses help support vibrant and successful communities by ensuring the viability of local destinations for walking, shopping, and socializing. Drive-thru patrons tend to miss out on opportunities to experience the community and contribute to the local economy. Revival of walkable communities In general, communities have been planning for a more complete transportation network that accommodates pedestrians, cyclists and others for a number of years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, varying restrictions on travel and gathering in public places changed the ways in which we were able to get out of our homes and experience a sense of community. These restrictions motivated people to go out walking or biking in their neighborhoods, exposing many residents to the true pedestrian experience in their local communities for the first time. What many found was less than ideal. As we moved out of our neighborhoods and further into our communities, we found gaps in our sidewalk networks, unsafe road conditions for walkers and cyclists, and a lack of destinations to which we could walk. People started to find their regional shared use trails, but realized those trails were primarily accessible by driving to the trailheads. These realizations may be the catalyst for the stronger demand for walkability that is happening in many communities, especially in suburban areas where people feel the limitations of the built environment. Since these communities were initially designed around the personal vehicle, creating non-motorized infrastructure took a back seat to maintaining and expanding our roadways. While for some, walking and bicycle riding are forms of recreation, for others, they are modes of travel that support independence. According to AARP, by 2030, one in five persons in the US will be age 65 or
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csengineermag.com
NOVEMBER 2023
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