Slow Transportation Movement
A Hubway bikeshare fleet bike in Boston. It's quite literally a sign of the changing order!
Slow Down, You're Moving Too Fast
Perhaps you remember Simon & Garfunkle singing "slow down, you're moving to fast. You gotta make the morning last.." Or maybe you recall Bob Dylan in his The Times are a Changin' prophesying that "the slow one now will later be fast as the present now will later be past. The order is rapidly fadin' and the first one now will later be last. For the times they are a-changin'."
There is a "changing of the order" happening, and it's naturally arising in many corners of the globe to bring a more human pace to our lives. We at VBike call it the Slow Transportation Movement, or STM for short.
Taking a cue from the "slow food movement" and other initiatives that promote a greater connection to the world we live in, the Slow Transportation Movement adopts this theme to our mobility choices.
Slide from the VBike Slow Transportation Movement presentation
The STM Model
On the face of it, the Slow Transportation Movement is about promoting transport at lower speeds and at a less hurried pace. But more that, it offers a way of conceptualizing and ranking transportation options according to parameters that favor modes of transport which actively integrate the use of our bodies, eangage us in our community, and maximize our sensory awareness and availability to the social and ecological worlds we travel through.
Here’s a basic three-tier ranking system in order of the most ecologically, sensorily, and physically connected STM modes:
On the face of it, the Slow Transportation Movement is about promoting transport at lower speeds and at a less hurried pace. But more that, it offers a way of conceptualizing and ranking transportation options according to parameters that favor modes of transport which actively integrate the use of our bodies, eangage us in our community, and maximize our sensory awareness and availability to the social and ecological worlds we travel through.
Here’s a basic three-tier ranking system in order of the most ecologically, sensorily, and physically connected STM modes:
- 1st tier – walking, wheelchairs, etc.
- 2nd tier – bicycles, cargo bikes, pedicabs, skateboards, etc.
- 3nd tier – e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, e-pedicabs etc, (no faster than 20 mph with supplemental assist engaged
Additionally, the criteria for STM factor in the degree to which we impact the world around us (safety, noise, air and water pollution, land use, etc.) and our our capability of being aware of those impacts. For instance, while an enclosed vehicle creates more comfort, it will also limit our ability to ascertain our affect on the ecological and social environments we move in.
So, the aim of the Slow Transportation Movement is to gradually realign our transportation priorities toward mobility that incorporates a decidedly calmer pace in addition to engaging our bodies while connecting us physically, sensorily and emotionally to the world. STM's ultimate task is to position these modes of transportation that meet the STM criteria so that we can draw a greater distinction and comparison to exclusively motorized modes that are outside of the parameters of the STM, like public transit, taxis, private cars, and car shares and other motorized transport. This may also help us to more clearly articulate the vision of a world we want to see that is distinct from of the "reality" that has been imposed on our communities today.
So, the aim of the Slow Transportation Movement is to gradually realign our transportation priorities toward mobility that incorporates a decidedly calmer pace in addition to engaging our bodies while connecting us physically, sensorily and emotionally to the world. STM's ultimate task is to position these modes of transportation that meet the STM criteria so that we can draw a greater distinction and comparison to exclusively motorized modes that are outside of the parameters of the STM, like public transit, taxis, private cars, and car shares and other motorized transport. This may also help us to more clearly articulate the vision of a world we want to see that is distinct from of the "reality" that has been imposed on our communities today.
Really, The Times Are A Changing
First and foremost, STM is about creating convivial and vibrant streets and protecting space for our children, families, the elderly, those with physical challenges and all people to move freely with the least impact incurred from a hyper-motorized culture. Really, its about proposing a world we actually want to live in rather than accommodating one that is from many vantage points profoundly misaligned with the interests and health of our communities and the greater world.
First and foremost, STM is about creating convivial and vibrant streets and protecting space for our children, families, the elderly, those with physical challenges and all people to move freely with the least impact incurred from a hyper-motorized culture. Really, its about proposing a world we actually want to live in rather than accommodating one that is from many vantage points profoundly misaligned with the interests and health of our communities and the greater world.
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In fact, as you can see from the graphic on the right, this is all naturally happening right now. The "millenial generation" or "generation Y" has consistently demonstrated a preference for slower, more connected forms of transportation. As they move away from the car, any town, city or region that wants to remain economically relevant may have to accommodate their preferences. There a lot to think about here for Vermont, especially given that we have the 2nd oldest population in the nation.
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