My year officially kicked off with a week long trip to the USA for a series of workshops and events that had been long in the making. To say there were some nerves about making the trip would be fair, particularly given the state of things at the moment, but with commitments made, tickets sold, and people counting on my presence, I prepared as best I could and made the cross-Atlantic flight.
Having now returned home to The Netherlands, I’ve spent the days since reflecting on the experience. If anything, this trip has reminded me about the strength and importance of community when it comes to positive impacts on mobility and public space. Throughout my years as an advocate and expert in this space there have been countless times when people have felt lost or hopeless because of national leadership. What has always shone through, however, is that real impact tends to occur most at the local level through the tenacity and passion of locals who keep on doing the work. This was as true with this visit as at any other time.
Realising a more liveable sunshine state in South East Florida
In Florida, I made a return visit to West Palm Beach, connecting with colleagues at the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization to co-lead a workshop organised by the Dutch Cycling Embassy. Locally, the team is ambitiously finding ways to positively transform West Palm Beach into a thriving place where people want to stay rather than simply passing through. The passion they have for their county is evident, as they search for creative ways to collaborate with developers and city staff to realise a more walkable, cyclable, and liveable city.
A little further south, Transit Alliance Miami were a rockstar team who quickly brought together an amazing evening co-headlining event for Chris and I and our dear friends Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear, authors of Life After Cars and co-hosts of the War of Cars Podcast. Bigger than the event, though, was the evidence of how important the non-profit is for the community and affecting change. A small but mighty team, they are working hard to organise events and campaigns to make Miami-Dade more accessible for all residents.
Keeping cycling not-so-weird in Austin
Following Miami, we travelled west to Austin, Texas where we met with two groups both passionate about a more happy, healthy and vibrant Austin. Following several years of collaboration with the Dutch Cycling Embassy and with Chris himself, we were hosted by the City of Austin for a presentation and panel discussion with City staff of how women’s leadership can help them continue to advance the incredible work to improve cyclability on Austin’s streets from a policy, design, and planning perspective. Despite it taking place on the Friday of a long weekend, the room was filled with enthusiasm and curiousity, and an overall feeling that they are on the right track.
Of course positive civic action tends to need support from the advocates, and in Austin, they have it in spades. On a slightly chilly Saturday by Austin standards, we presented to a standing room only crowd organised by Safe Streets Austin on the work behind Women Changing Cities, including introductions from two local women councillors, followed by a ride through the Mueller neighbourhood led by a spirited member of the team shining a light on all the wins for active travel, and of course where there is still work to be done.
Connecting rural America in Indiana
The trip wrapped up with a trip to the icy North in Elkhart, Indiana with the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. There, we met with Foundation staff as well as local teams working on expanding their trails network with ambitions to make it a world-class destination for leisure and every day cycling. It was quickly evident how important their work is to them, and the strong relationships that had been built with various local staff as they look for creative ways to realise safe, accessible, and more convenient routes to connect a relatively rural part of Indiana on limited budgets. Bookended by a wonderful evening event to help spur continued inspiration in the county and beyond, it was a perfect way to complete our visit to the USA.
It’s not our countries that define us, but our actions
Early on in the trip, I was asked a few times what it felt like to be in the US. I’ve reflected on this question continually since then. My response now is to explain that what I experienced was people who despite the challenges they are face of continued motornormativity, lack of public awareness, and huge funding gaps, remain hopeful in the face of it. The openness, kindness, and determination was infectious, and reminded me that we as individuals are more complex than a national identity. Change will happen in American – and other – cities in spite of national sentiment, because at the community level, the energy doesn’t stop.
Thank you to all the various people who made this trip worthwhile. We all need that reminder of the strength of the community once in a while!
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