Downtown Mobile’s freshly repaved St. Louis Street became a gathering point on the afternoon of Aug. 31, 2014, as cyclists, walkers and skateboarders converged for a community event billed as a “Flash MOB” – a nod to Mobilians on Bikes, the advocacy group that organized the outing alongside the Delta Bike Project.
Rather than a spontaneous song-and-dance flash mob, this gathering was aimed at showing city leaders that residents care about safer, more walkable streets. Participants were asked to ride, walk or roll to a stretch of St. Louis Street in the heart of downtown at 3 p.m., where freshly striped bike lanes had already drawn attention.
Jeff DeQuattro, who leads the Delta Bike Project, said the experimental lanes on both sides of that block had already proven popular with riders. He argued that Mobile has an opportunity to rethink its streets so that people on foot or on two wheels can get around safely, regardless of age or ability.
Among the changes DeQuattro said he would like to see: additional bike lanes throughout downtown, safer marked crossings, wider sidewalks, better street lighting at night, “road diets” that narrow vehicle lanes to slow traffic, and more shaded, green spaces along city streets. He singled out Broad Street, Water Street and Government Street as corridors that could benefit from improved crossings to better connect downtown for people not traveling by car.
Other features on his wish list included curb bump-outs at intersections to slow turning traffic, physically protected bike lanes separated from vehicle travel, and sidewalks wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
The gathering doubled as something of a block party. Local artist Devlin Wilson used the occasion to open the doors of his new studio, Innova Arts, at 505 St. Louis St., while artist Rachel Burrows and others sold work at a pop-up market set up along the street. Mobile Urban Growers brought a farm stand offering fresh produce to browsers.
Food and drink vendors including Coco Bay Daphne, Frios Gourmet Pops and La Pizzeria set up for the crowd, and the band Bordello Rhythm provided live music through the afternoon.
Organizers said they hoped the turnout would send a signal to city hall that residents are paying attention to how downtown streets are designed, and that Mobile’s growing bike and pedestrian community wants a seat at the table as future improvements are planned.