Bloomington’s B-Line Trail: A Community’s Unique Personality on Display

Bloomington’s B-Line Trail

After reading the article about William Whyte, I learned that public spaces are a central part of communities, and that they need to be designed specifically with the people of that community in mind. After walking the B-Line trail in Bloomington, Indiana, I found myself in awe of how the design of this trail accomplishes everything Whyte spent his time researching.

The B-Line trail is a 3.1 mile long trail that connects the city of Bloomington and the surrounding neighborhoods. I often find myself going on runs and walks on this trail during my time at Indiana University. Recently, I walked 2 miles along the trail, from where the trail connects at W 7th Street and S Madison Street. From there, I headed South for two miles before turning around and heading back. 

On this 65 degree and sunny Tuesday, the path was filled with life. From people walking their dogs to going on a run, everyone was enjoying their day in a different way, but in the same space. As I walked down the trail with one of my best friends, we could feel the positive energy around us. We noted how everyone we passed had a smile on their face, enjoying the warm weather and sunshine. The air smelled of fresh plants and flowers. I could hear the laughter and soft conversations of those around me as I walked. I felt happy, and like summer was almost upon us, even though it was mid spring. I felt joy as I passed people playing pickleball and skating in the skate park with their friends. Thinking about how everyone there that day chose to leave the house to go outside and enjoy the beautiful day on the B-Line. 

While walking along the B-Line, I came across many different points of interest. The first being farm animal-like sculptures along the path. These large, colorful pieces of art added a sense of curiosity to the path as I passed them. Next, I walked across a steep bridge that was over W Grimes Lane. As I walked up it, I noticed bikers and runners alike pushing themselves up this steep area, and then watched as they easily came down the other side. I had never been across the bridge before and was surprised when I saw basketball, bocce ball, and pickleball courts as I neared switchyard park.

I could tell that these were all newer additions to the path because the colors on the courts were bright and not worn down at all. I watched as a group of men gathered around to start a game of pick-up basketball, and four friends laughed as they ran around the pickleball court. As I walked past the bocce ball courts, I thought about how that was an interesting activity to make space for and while it seemed like a fun idea, I doubted that many people actually used them. However, to my surprise, 15 minutes later after turning around to walk back, there were two men setting up and playing. These men were older, and I guessed that not many younger people played this often, but I was glad to see that there were people out using the space and playing outside! I also noticed that there was outside workout equipment aligned in a circle that looked interesting, but no one was using it. I also passed what looked like a community garden which had freshly planted plants, and a skate park that was bustling with teenage boys on bikes and skateboards. There were also many restaurants and small cafes lined along the path, and if I didn’t have somewhere to be after my walk, I would have stopped for a cup of coffee. 

 

The People of the B-Line

One of the joys of walking is the opportunity to encounter and interact with people from diverse backgrounds. I definitely saw some interesting people on my walk. The majority of the people I saw walking were middle aged, around 30-50 years old, and white. This makes sense because 81% of Bloomington’ population is white. I also saw a lot of younger, high school to college aged students, mostly riding bikes and scooters, as well as playing basketball and pickleball, and riding in the skate park. I even ran into two friends who were walking together, enjoying the warm weather. However, there were not many people of color that I saw during my walk, which surprised me. With the other 20% of Bloomington’s population being people of color, I thought that I would have encountered more. 

As for the types of transportation I saw, there were bikers, some casually riding their bikes for enjoyment, soaking up the sun and they moved down the path, and others with their expensive racing bikes who seemed to be training for a race. There was also a significant amount of electric scooters on the trail which people seemed to use as a mode to get from one place to another, and not so much for leisure like the bikes were used for. There were a few runners I saw, but mostly people chose to walk, and from my perspective it seemed like most pedestrians were walking for leisure and did not have a destination in mind. With all of these modes of transportation, at some points the path felt chaotic, with bikes and scooters zooming by, almost hitting pedestrians at one point because they did not realize they walked into the path of an oncoming scooter.

The connectivity of the trail to the surrounding neighborhoods seemed to be very well planned. There were street crossings, some houses that backed up to the trail, and many easy access points to enter and exit. There were also some bus stops close by to the trail that I noticed. However, at some street crossings, where the pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way, I saw a runner cross the street, almost getting hit by a car that did not stop for her. But, overall, I think there is a great connection between the trail and the neighborhoods it goes through. I also noticed many different land uses along the B-line. Along with the residential neighborhoods with houses right along the path, there were commercial areas with stores and restaurants. However, I felt that these buildings did not overwhelm the green spaces located around and on the trail. I felt an overall sense of openness and nature as I walked the path, specifically near Switchyard Park. All of the different land uses contributed to a positive vibe of the neighborhood because there were people everywhere doing all sorts of activities, from exercise, to eating, to sitting on park benches soaking up the sun. 

Smart City Strategies for the B-Line

I think that two different smart city strategies that could be implemented along the B-line to make the trail more sustainable, attractive, and accessible for everyone are adding smart benches and more public art. I believe that smart benches can make the path more accessible and convenient for the community. Specifically, these benches would have features such as USB charging ports so pedestrians can easily charge their phones while sitting down to enjoy the weather, or while sitting under an awning that provides protection from the weather. These benches can also have Wi-Fi, to encourage people to use their electronic devices outside on the path, instead of inside somewhere else. These benches would also be wheelchair accessible and provide shade and shelter for people who need them. Smart benches can provide a comfortable and convenient place for Bloomington residents to rest, recharge, and enjoy their surroundings. 

Another smart city strategy that could be added to the B-line is public art. The B-line would become more visibly beautiful and engaging with the addition of public art. This might include artwork that show Bloomington’s history and culture in murals, sculptures, and installation, as well as art that people can interact with. There is a lot of graffiti on walls lining the path, and I think that those could be replaced with murals, similar to the ”Welcome to Bloomington” mural on Kirkwood near Sample Gates. I also believe that adding cultural art can improve the diversity of people seen on the trail. A sense of community and social connection can be created with public art, which would improve the overall experience of the trail.

Overall, I think William Whyte said it best when he said, “If there’s a lesson in street watching it is that people like basics – and as environments go, a street that is open to the sky and filled with people and life is a splendid place to be”. I think this very accurately describes Bloomington’s B-line trail and the experience that I had while walking it. The trail was a great place to get outside to exercise while enjoying the community of Bloomington and the nature it has to offer.