Sheila Sheppard
Location | Richmond
Why do we need better transportation choices and smarter land use here in the Richmond region? And why do we need to organize the community to get there?
I ask the question often, but luckily, answers are everywhere.
As I walk to Partnership for Smarter Growth where I work, I silently thank Church Hill’s planners and developers, both departed and living, for thinking of sidewalks and trees and for mixing land uses. I wave at the folks at the bus stop and enjoy the flower-filled traffic circle that the City of Richmond just built with both pedestrians and motorists in mind. Every day, I can choose whether I should walk or drive, take the bus or bike, and whether a quick visit to a nearby park is in order. If I’m loading up my violin and the amp for a gig, the car it is. If it’s a nice day, I put on my comfortable shoes, pull out the leash, and watch my pup Gnala’s tail wag with enthusiasm. Having these choices saves me money and gives me peace of mind.
But I know that most of the Richmond region - most of America - does not enjoy this freedom. And yes, I know some people do not necessarily want a life less dependent on the car. But I’m learning that many do. I’m also learning that even with their other worries, people want to get more involved in their communities. They want to be part of growing our city and our region into a greener, more sustainable place.
That’s where TransitTalk and PSG come in.
Where each of us lives, works, and plays, and how we get there, impacts our wallets, our air, our water, our neighbors. Making time to get involved is hard at first. But in the end, having great, connected communities will be more convenient. The answer I always come to is that we can’t do it alone.