Here's the first in a series of reports from our recent visit to California.

Cul-de-sac suburban neighborhoods prevent many children from safely traveling to basic destinations including schools, parks, stores, and their friend’s house. These neighborhoods have safe streets but are bound by streets too busy and mean for bicyclists and walkers to traverse. But is Davis, the cul-de-sac is only a front for an interconnected network of greenways that appeal to children and people of all ages.

In Davis children and students fully utilize the system and the city is serious about accommodating for children. For example, one key intersection between a middle school, an elementary school, and large neighborhood has high traffic and historically was a barrier to cycling. To remedy this, the City purchased a home and demolished it in order to create a bicycle-pedestrian only connection across the intersection connecting to a low-traffic street. The City constructed a second auto-diverter at the other end of the intersection and installed a bicycle-only traffic signal phase. Young children now have their own light cycle to safely cross between two safe and enjoyable bike streets.

Children use these facilities. At the middle school near this great intersection we passed hundreds of bicycle racks that are apparently full everyday school day. We saw preadolescent children (10-14 years old) bicycling alone for transportation and fun. Of course we also saw older “children� (college students) riding en-masse.

The University has an entire network of bicycle-only routes and bicycle roundabouts in areas where bicycle traffic is high. In one area the University bicycle coordinator counted 1,100 bicyclists in a 15-minute period riding through a roundabout. While college students are not kids, many of these students come to campus not having ridden a bike for a long time, but this auto free environment is convenient enough for them to start again.

Most importantly, especially for parents of young kids, bicycling in Davis is safe. Tim Bustos, the City’s Bicycle Coordinator, reported only two bicycle-related deaths in 20 years. Bicycles are a key element to the fabric of Davis, but having a system that is safe for children makes it safe for all.

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