Walk, Bike, Thrive: How Design Drives Decisions
This is a shortened version of a presentation given by Chris Pittman
Walk, Bike, Thrive: How Design Drives Decisions
Our cities shape how we live, move, and connect. As residents of the Texas Panhandle, the design of our streets and neighborhoods impacts us daily—mentally, physically, and financially. By reimagining our streets as places that invite walking, biking, and connection, we can build healthier, happier communities for everyone.
Why Street Design Matters
When I think about my own journey, cycling has always been more than a hobby—it’s been a way of life. I biked to school, to work, and now, with my family. But when my son and I tried biking to his new school, our excitement quickly turned to fear. Neighborhood streets felt safe enough, but crossing busy roads during rush hour was terrifying. We stopped riding, and I felt robbed of a simple joy. Why should biking to school feel so dangerous?
That experience launched my advocacy for safer, more human-friendly streets. Our environment influences our choices: just as a fruit bowl on the counter encourages healthy snacking, wide, fast roads encourage speeding—even if the posted limit says otherwise.
How Our Streets Shape Our Behavior
Have you ever noticed how friendly we are on foot, but how that warmth disappears behind the wheel? It’s not just you. The design of our roads plays a big role. Wide lanes, straight stretches, and gentle curves signal that it’s safe to drive fast—even when it isn’t. This is called “design speed,” and it often overrides posted speed limits. For example, Soncy Road feels like a freeway, even as development has turned it into a busy corridor with lots of driveways and cross-traffic.
Then there’s the “stroad”—a mix of street and road that tries to serve both fast-moving cars and people on foot or bike, but fails at both. Think of Bell Street by Amarillo High: seven wide lanes, a high speed limit, and a crosswalk for students. It’s uncomfortable and unsafe for everyone.
The Benefits of Active Transportation
Why should we care about making our streets safer for walking and biking?
Physical Health: Walking and cycling reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve cancer survival rates, and help us live longer, healthier lives.
Mental Health: Active commuters report lower stress, better mood, and higher productivity. Children who walk or bike to school do better academically and have more friends.
Financial Savings: Owning a car is expensive—about $9,000 a year for the average Texan. Walking or biking saves money and boosts local economies; people who bike or walk spend more at local businesses each month.
Community Connections: When we walk or bike, we experience our neighborhoods at human speed, building the casual connections that make communities resilient and welcoming.
How Do We Fix It?
Can something as simple as PAINT help make our streets safer?
Solutions come from both the top down and the bottom up:
Redesign for Safety: Programs like Safe Systems and Vision Zero aim to eliminate traffic deaths by prioritizing safety over speed. Amarillo recently adopted Safe Systems, and similar initiatives could help us build safer streets for everyone.
Change Our Mindset: Crashes aren’t “accidents”—they’re signs that our streets need to be safer. If we commit to zero traffic fatalities, we make space for everyone to travel safely, whether by car, bike, or foot.
Start Small, Act Locally: You don’t have to be an engineer to make a difference. Try walking or biking for short trips. Advocate for safer streets at city council meetings. Build a culture of walking and biking by inviting friends and family to join you. Support tactical urbanism—temporary, low-cost changes like pop-up bike lanes, street murals, or mini-roundabouts—to demonstrate what’s possible.
Join the Movement
PATH (Panhandle Active Transportation and Health) is a group of citizens working to make our communities more vibrant and people-friendly. We host regular group rides, advocate for safer streets, and support demonstration projects. Whether you want to bike with us, help plan events, or just learn more, you’re welcome to join. Together, we can create a community where everyone feels safe and invited—no matter how they choose to get around.
Let’s take the next step. Walk your neighborhood, bike to work, or join a PATH event. Every small action moves us closer to a city where people come first, and where thriving is possible for all.