Transportation is a critical part of community living, and allows us to connect to food, entertainment, education, healthcare, and many more services. Navigating our streets gives us freedom, independence, and the ability to socialize and reach places that would otherwise be inaccessible. To receive a driver’s license and get access to our public roads, motorized vehicle drivers have to spend hours practicing in the presence of another licensed driver, before being trusted to navigate our streets on their own. This helps increase the safety of our community, and ensures that those who access our streets are educated and confident in their ability to be a part of traffic.
Bicyclists have the same right as any motorized vehicle driver to be a part of traffic, while not having the same expectations for requiring practice and education before they become a part of traffic. This leaves bicyclists vulnerable to both causing and/or being part of an accident.
Traffic Gardens, a concept that has popped up throughout several American cities, is a great way to provide practice and get hands-on experience while navigating streets, without the threat and pressure of interacting simultaneously with motorized vehicles. A traffic garden is not in fact tiny cars planted into the ground, as the name may imply, but is actually a network of small-scale streets where youth, along with their parents, can practice bicycling and pedestrian skills in a safe, park-like environment. Children practice specific skills along simulated roadways, intersections and crossings while having fun and being active. Traffic gardens also provide a valuable place for local community organizations to hold walking, biking and traffic safety skills training and education programs.
Bike Walk Montana, along with Helena Parks and Recreation and other community partners, is seeking to create a Traffic Garden in the Helena community. While the best location for the traffic garden is still being determined, the initial search for a location has been focused on Centennial Park, one of Helena’s most frequently visited parks centered in the heart of the city, right next to Downtown Helena. This location would allow public access to the traffic garden, and would increase the safety and confidence of Helena’s young cylers and pedestrians.
But the benefits do not just stop at increasing the safety of Helena’s youth - Helena is a destination city where visitors from around the world gather to enjoy the warm hospitality and to pass through and utilize the extensive trail system found in our community. We would like to expand the options visitors have for bicycling in Helena, benefiting the economy and money brought in through the tourism industry. Developing a “Bike Town Helena Traffic Garden” will encourage cyclists to bring their friends, partners, and the whole family along on their trip. Currently, there is no location for learning on-road driving behaviors in a simulated street system anywhere in Montana. A Bike Town Helena Traffic Garden would help draw even more tourists from across the state and country to come to Helena, bringing the whole family to take advantage of Helena’s great opportunities for cyclists of all ages and skills.
We need the support of the entire Helena community to make this project become a reality. Our goal is to engage as many community members and organizations as possible, including local businesses, law enforcement, firefighters, first responders, and city and county government offices. Like all things, we are a stronger community when we are united, and with the support and interest of Helenan organizations and individuals, we will make the Bike Town Helena Traffic Garden a reality!
Please contact info@bikewalkmontana.org today to find out how you can help, or give us a call at (406) 449-2787. We look forward to hearing from you.