6 mega trends and the future of bicycling in NE Florida
Andy Clarke, of the Toole Design Group team, recently made a presentation at the North Florida Bicycle Club (NFBC) called 'Six Mega Trends and the future of Bicycling in Northeast Florida.' Here’s a summary of the main points, courtesy of the City of Jacksonville.
<h1>6. Millennials.</h1>
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, people born between roughly 1980 and 2000 are driving change in America. That’s the demographic every politician, every business leader, and every developer in the nation is chasing. Fortunately, the good news is they like bikes and they aren’t in thrall to the motor vehicle. They want and expect choice and flexibility, on demand, in every aspect of their lives. They also expect instant gratification. Beyond the [hilariously accurate] stereotyping, though, there is deeper lesson to be learned for the North Florida Bike Club. There are four generations in the workplace and today: they are very different from each other, and really don’t realize it. Gen X’ers and Gen Y (millennials) aren’t joiners. They don’t like commitment. They have no sense of loyalty or responsibility even – so they aren’t going to join the Bike Club, and they aren’t going to sign up to serve on the board in the same way that baby boomers do. We have to find a different model for engagement that offers instant results, is entirely based on phone interactions and apps, and yet offers tangible rewards and a real sense of community and connection at a moment’s notice.
That’s not your traditional bike club. And these mega-trends are going to change society so quickly and fundamentally that a decade from now you won’t be saying “this isn’t your father’s Jacksonville”, it won’t even be your Jacksonville. Unless, of course, we choose to shape and take advantage of these mega-trends to transform North Florida into a wealth of healthy, sustainable, walkable and bike-friendly communities that support physical activity for all ages, are resilient, connected, and equitably serve people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Is this the job of a local bike club? You bet it is, unless you are ok driving to Georgia to find a decent place to ride.
City of Jacksonville Pedestrian And Bicycle Master Plan Study 2016 Make your voice heard at the next public meetings!
Tuesday August 23rd 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Jewish Community Alliance 8505 San Jose Blvd. (Corner of San Jose Blvd. and San Clerc. Rd)
Thursday, August 25th 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church 6317 103rd Street (next to Applebee’s between Blanding Blvd. and Jammes Rd.)