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Multimodal efforts need push
While Asheville has made much progress in recent years in providing multiple ways to interconnect places, it still has a long way to go.
We encourage City Council to keep the ball rolling with more greenways, bike lanes and mass transit service.
A multimodal transportation system has aesthetic, environmental and practical benefits — and is a big factor in making a community a highly desirable place in which to live, or to locate a business or industry.
From a health perspective, it has been well-documented that walking or riding a bicycle not only cuts down on obesity, but pumps out endorphins that give individuals an emotional and mental lift.
Also, by reducing the use of motor vehicles, the city reduces the overall carbon footprint, given that CO2 comprises the majority of these greenhouse gas emissions.
To its credit, the city also has invested in its transit system lately, expanding hours and routes along major corridors, while keeping rates low. It even added long-demanded Sunday service this year.
For those who like to walk, the city, which now has 4.5 miles of greenway completed, has another 4.5 miles scheduled for construction between 2015-17.
For bicycle commuters, the city has completed 15 miles of on-street bike lanes, including 7 miles of streets that have lanes on both sides of the road. Another 5 miles have shared lane markings on both sides of the road.
Asheville already is terrific, but having lots of healthy, economical options to reach places would make it truly outstanding.
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