Mapping My Journey

I started the B-Line around 10th Street and ended at Switchyard Park. This walk took about 45 minutes and was approximately 2 miles long as I headed south on my journey accompanied by my friend Nathan Kolesar. Some of the highlights of this walk were walking through downtown as well as some of the commercial and residential areas that occupy just south of Kirkwood, which I will talk about later on.

I walked the trail on Saturday April 8th around 11:30am to around 12:25pm. The weather was around 60 degrees and sunny out with a slight breeze. The perfect weather for a nice day outside. I was wearing shorts, tennis shoes, and a quarter zip sweater as it was a bit chilly towards the beginning of the walk.

 

My Experience

At the start of the walk there was a lot of art and graffiti on different walls and fences surrounding closed off areas. Pictured on the right are the letters ACAB painted on a fence. There was also some other stuff painted on these fences.

As we walked I heard the sounds of birds and the conversations of the people we passed. This atmosphere made for a very serene and relaxing environment.

There were many more interesting art pieces and graffiti along the trail that added visual interest and an interactive aspect to the walk. Pictured below are some of the sculptures, paintings, and other pieces that were seen along the trail.

Places Visited

We were fortunate during our walk that the Bloomington Farmers Market was occurring at the same time. We arrived at the farmers market location just near city hall around noon. The market appeared as if it was getting ready to close for the day, but we walked around and got to observe some of the vendors and take in the sights and the smells of the market.

This was my first time visiting the Bloomington Farmers Market, and I’d been wanting to go for the past four years but just haven’t been able to get around to it. The enticing smell of fresh caramel corn and breakfast sandwiches almost convinced me to buy something, but I was saving my appetite and wallet for our lunch later on.

Some of the other memorable places that we passed were the Bloomington Community Bike Project which stands out to me as a place I volunteered with freshman year of college in Spring 2020. Hopscotch Coffee Roastery which had a fairly long line for their to-go window also tempted me with smells of fresh pastries and coffee which would’ve accompanied the afternoon walk well.

The overall atmosphere of all these places of interest reflects the culture and ideals of Bloomington which features a tight-knit community focused on small businesses and local products at the heart and epicenter of what makes Bloomington such a strong community.

People of the B-Line

There were a few main groups of people seen walking along the B-Line trail. First was the exercisers these were people seen either walking, running, biking, etc., on the trail in what appeared to be exercise gear that were most likely out enjoying the beautiful weather to get some outdoor exercise in. The other main group were the social people these were people who were out and about using the B-Line to shop, get food, or enjoy the social aspects of the trail and were often walking with friends, spouses, pets, etc.

The demographics of the people seen walking the trail was very diverse. The age ranged from kids out and about with parents to college students as well as older individuals enjoying the nice weather as well as a variety of genders and ethnic backgrounds, although most people were predominantly white-passing. One commonality among all people seen using the trail was that they appeared to be enjoying the beautiful weather and taking in the early spring atmosphere.

One group most notably absent from the B-Line and around the trail were people experiencing homelessness. This could be due to a number of reasons such as higher police patrol due to it being a very busy area or potential loitering laws associated with the various business, residences, and other buildings surrounding the trail.

Pictured below is an example of anti-homeless architecture that was seen on almost all benches along the trail. These benches have dividers in order to stop people from laying on or sleeping on them. These benches serve as a great reminder of Bloomington’s complex relationships with people experiencing homelessness and remind us of the reality that the smallest things such as anti-homeless benches can add to the dehumanization of an already stigmatized group in society.

Transportation

The main modes of transportation I saw on the trail were pedestrians, bicycles, and scooters on the side of the trail although I didn’t see anyone using a scooter on the trail.

The trail itself is wide enough that four people could fit comfortably across the entire trail and bikers and scooters can have enough space to pass pedestrians safely. One thing I noticed on the trail was the absence of speed limit signs for bikers, which is one aspect present along the Monon Trail in Carmel, IN and the Minnehaha Trail in Minneapolis, MN (the two trails I’ve traversed the most).

Overall the different modes of transportation add not only to the usefulness of the trail but also to the overall atmosphere. It creates a more enriching and dynamic environment having these different modes coexist on one path and gives people the flexibility to experiment with different modes of transportation as well.

 

Connectivity

In considering the connectivity of the B-Line trail I found that most of the trail intersected with sidewalks. These sidewalks were mostly connected to roads that led to various places such as stores, residential areas, or other land areas.

The B-Line trail had very accessible points especially by foot or bike/scooter. But not as necessarily car friendly. For the starting point of my walk I had to park at a nearby neighborhood park and walk on a sidewalk that connected to the trail.

Public transit is also easily accessible from the trail as it intersects many roads as well as passes by the bus station downtown so people can easily switch modes of transit if they wanted to.

Land Uses

Surrounding the B-Line trail there were many different types of buildings and areas of land I observed. There were many apartment complexes, small houses and townhomes as well as businesses and industrial/construction zones.

Most of the buildings I observed were commercial buildings. Places such as Irish Lion Restaurant and WonderLab Science Museum are just steps away from the trail, along with bigger chains like Kroger or Wendy’s that could also be seen from the trail. These places give people a way to get to those stores or businesses without having to use a bus or car and make it easily accessible.

There were also a good amount of residential areas mostly in the form of apartments or townhomes as most of the actual neighborhoods were slightly farther away from the trail and used a sidewalk to connect to the trail. These residences being right next to the trail add an extra amenities to the homes as it makes walking to shops, stores, or downtown right in your back yard and provides a place for leisurely activities.

The abandoned buildings and industrial zones along the trail did take away from the beauty of the walk a bit with dark and dilapidated buildings that give you a sense of uneasiness when walking by them. Most of these buildings were south around 2nd  Street, which is a shame that the trail could not encompass the magic of the downtown area throughout the entire span.

Then we got to the end of my walk on the trail where you’re greeted by a gorgeous recreational facility and greenspace in Switchyard park that features basketball courts, a skate park, greenspace, shelter areas, multi-purpose venues, etc. This space was one of the highlights for me on the trail as it creates this more active and uplifting vibe compared to the industrial areas along the park. I would’ve liked to see more green/recreation areas along the trail as it would make the trail experience even more engaging and beautiful.

Smart City Strategies

Smart Restrooms

One possible Smart City strategy that could be implemented are smart restrooms that deter non-customers from using businesses and provide means for hygienic waste practices. These could be placed along the trail at various points and would be very beneficial for people using the trail.

Green Infrastructure

Another possible strategy is implementing green infrastructure to block out eyesores. Put up rows of bushes or trees to make the experience more pleasurable during stretches of the trail that go through less appealing parts of town.