From San Diego to Strasbourg: Exploring the Future of Mobility
IUC Learning Exchange — Strasbourg, France & San Diego, USA
In September 2019, I was fortunate enough to be part of a small delegation from the City of San Diego, traveling to Strasbourg, France. Through the International Union Cooperation (IUC) program, San Diego was paired with Strasbourg to participate in a learning exchange with a mutual interest in promoting more inclusivity in our cities, more active lifestyles, and mobility. At the outset of the program, we were fairly unfamiliar with Strasbourg; however, through frequent Skype video calls, our cities began to learn about each other’s programs and priorities. This highlighted just how many similarities our cities had and how much we had to learn from each other.
When I first arrived in Strasbourg, I was taken aback by the endless sea of bikes outside their train station. There were bikes everywhere. Noticeably missing was the sound of cars honking or the long line of Ubers waiting to pick up travelers. Throughout the week, the absence of cars became more noticeable. At rush hour, the tram was packed, but the roads were quiet. Walking around the city center, a location that would typically be packed with cars, we rarely saw them. This car-free city was the result of many planning initiatives and strategic programming, which provides Strasbourg’s citizens with multiple ways to quickly and easily navigate around their city, without a personal vehicle. From an employee bike share program that provides easy access to bikes for all city employees, to an extensive bike path network with intuitive signage, to a tram line that is both beautifully designed and incredibly convenient, Strasbourg’s mobility network produced endless inspiration to bring back to San Diego. They had a multitude of alternative options to the car, that were often both more convenient and more affordable.
In San Diego, we are actively working on providing expanded mobility options for commuters and residents, as well as supporting the mode shift away from single-occupancy vehicles towards public transit and active transportation. This includes bicyclists and pedestrians. Strasbourg is not only a model for options on how to implement this new mobility network, but also on how to share these initiatives with our citizens. Their Velostraus network functions as a modern-day transit system, with color-coded protected bike paths that facilitate ease of navigation and safety of travel. Strasbourg’s Vitaboucle connects recreation, wellness, and active transportation. This provides walking, running, and biking routes across the city, with designated stops containing workout stations.
The Vitaboucle, like the Velostraus, is color-coded, so the user can quickly determine the level of difficulty. It is also well-marked, so the user can easily navigate the route. Both these programs are shining examples of wayfinding systems and the integration of active transportation and recreation facilities into the city’s infrastructure. They provide both the opportunity to commute without a car and a free resource for recreation and fitness. Supporting the use of these networks, Strasbourg’s Veloptimiste goes beyond program logistics to bring citizens into the movement. It creates a brand that represents the larger positive lifestyle and attitude that riding your bike entails.
The Learning Exchange left me with a renewed excitement for the work I do and inspired me to keep thinking big when it comes to city planning. It highlighted that our commonalities are more extensive than our differences, both in the challenges we face and in the goals we strive to achieve. Both Strasbourg and San Diego are cities looking to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and active place to live for their citizens.
Thank you to IUC and EUintheUS for this ideal pairing and incredible learning opportunity.
Julia Chase is a Senior Planner at the City of San Diego Planning Department.
This story is part of the #USEUCities series, featuring stories written by EU and US participants in the EU’s International Urban Cooperation (IUC) City Pairings program that helps achieve local and international political objectives on sustainable urban development and climate change.
Read the press release and visit the IUC website to learn more.
