New Urbanists talk about the "Missing Middle" in housing: too few options between single-family homes and 100-unit apartment complexes.  There is also a missing middle for private vehicles: options between a 10-mph bicycle and an 80-mph freeway machine.  Luckily, there is a quiet revolution occurring in a few tiny pockets - prominently in Peachtree, Georgia and "The Villages" in Florida - where they are tapping into this missing middle.  The ramifications could be astonishing. 

 

To transition decaying auto-oriented suburbs into dynamic, more walkable "Places," we need stepping stones. "More walkable" inherently means "less auto-oriented" (still auto-oriented, but a stepping stone to less so!)  These communities emphasize the "less auto" part of the statement by appealing to tiny cars: less money to purchase and maintain, less energy consumed, less land consumed by parking, less danger, etc.  To make these low-speed vehicles attractive, these cities have created "Low-speed, Easy Access Networks" (or LEAN networks).  It's working so well that "one car, one-cart" households are commonplace.  

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Here are some of the benefits:

• Land Recovery:  Reduces the amount of land needed for parking, which frees up space for more buildings.

• Helps Bikes:  Justifies greater investment in bicycle networks by piggybacking on a much larger 4-wheel market.

• Pre/Post-Car freedom:  mobility for those who can't or shouldn't drive "big cars." (pre-16, many who are elderly)

• Household affordability:  much cheaper to purchase, operate, and maintain.

• Reduces Congestion: Trips on alternative networks are not occupying space on traditional networks.

• Low carbon footprint: Why use an energy-heavy, 80-mph Tesla with a range of over 300 miles, when all you need is 20 to 30-mph for neighborhood trips - the majority of all trips.

• Expands transit walk-shed:  As "moving sidewalks," use them as shuttles to/from long-haul rail or BRT.  

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The Trouble with Bikes

There is significant momentum toward creating excellent bicycle networks.  Wonderful!  But unfortunately, the market for 2-wheel vehicles will always be minuscule relative to 4-wheel vehicles, and that limits the ability to invest in them even more.  Why is biking permanently unattractive for most people and most trips?   Here are three reasons: 1) Climate: too hot, too cold, or too stormy; 2) Comfort: Look around - not that many of us are skinny enough or young enough for a tiny bike seat with no back rest; 3) Cargo: Hard to carry extra people and objects.  

 

It is hard for many DOTs and communities to justify allocating valuable right-of-way and construction dollars to biking, when the vast majority of trips will always be impractical for biking.  But widen a cycle track by just a few feet and voila!  "Tiny cars" can now use them, provided they are no faster than eBikes.  By accommodating bike-like 4-wheel vehicles, you can capture a HUGE market share. In turn, that also benefits bikes by attracting investment in bike-friendly infrastructure.