My B-Line Experience
I have been to the B-line before, typically as a runner, but today was the first day I was actively aware of the ambience and what allowed it to be that way. I walked the B-line during a sunny, warm day which made it so that there were many people out and about. The trail was paved in asphalt which originally made it seem bland, but the fact that it was lined with benches made it stand out from any old sidewalk. It made it seem more welcoming–like a place to walk with friends where I could sit and stay a while. Also, the fact that it was a trail in which no cars were allowed made my time more pleasant as a pedestrian. I loved being able to hear the birds chirping with no sounds of cars driving past.
Places Along the Way
The first thing which stood out to me when I was starting my walk was the public art lining the trail which was painted on the walls of the building. To me, the art seemed casual but also well-done. Like it was done by someone who knew what they were doing but were also enjoying themselves and painting the walls just for fun. It made the trail seem very welcoming and artistic to me and I loved noticing the various murals I would see as I walked.
I also made it over to Switchyard park. This seemed like a place I would enjoy gathering with friends as it had various areas offering ways to get active such as pickleball or bocce ball courts. It also had a playground for children to play on as well as decorative lights and a ‘Switchyard Park’ labeled water tower. Having this recreational area along the B-line seemed like a very effective way to gather the community together and get people outside enjoying nature.
The People of the B-line
I met up with one of my classmates to walk the B-line. However, we ended up randomly running into another one of our classmates on the trail which was a fun surprise. It was great to catch up and hear about each other’s experiences on the
trail. I also saw a lot of athletes on the trail as it was the perfect destination for running or biking. Also, especially in Switchyard Park, there were many groups of friends. I loved watching people play pickleball and bocce ball and it was so great to see the facilities being used. I also noticed there were sleeping areas set up along the trail which led me to believe that there were members of the homeless population congregating on the B-line as well. This illustrates the welcoming nature of the trail as an area for people to congregate but also raises safety concerns for stakeholders who are not members of the homeless population. I do wonder if this is why I didn’t see any children on the playground at Switchyard Park. Overall, I noticed kids and high school/college students weren’t a very represented demographic on the trail. I don’t know many college students who know that this trail exists and I wonder if this could be why college students are not there.
The Modes of Transportation
On the trail I noticed lots of other pedestrians as well as many bicyclists. I also even saw someone on rollerblades. This made the space seem like a place to get outside and enjoy nature in whatever form one so chooses.
Connectivity of the Trail
In terms of connectivity, I felt as though there was one main opening to the trail which is where I entered. This is also the point where Apple Maps took me too when routing myself to the trail. To me, I felt that this point was a central destination in downtown Bloomington too. However, I noticed that the trail was connected with the street at various locations giving the
community multiple points to enter the trail. Although I appreciate the areas where there are no cars around, I think that having multiple access points incentivizes community members to go to the B-line trail. This is because upon discovering the trail they’ll learn an access point which is most accessible to them making it easier for them to reach the B-line.
Types of Building and Land Uses
On my walk I encountered a grouping of residential houses that were gated in and, in my opinion, possessed curb appeal. Each of the houses also had a unique and colorful look to it. This aids in providing the B-line with a neighborly vibe. I wonder if the developers of the B-line had a say in what kind of residences would be placed along the B-line or if the community nature of the B-line is what attracted residences such as this. I also walked past various businesses such as Hopscotch Coffee and Bloomington Antique Mall. Both of these businesses contributed to the artsy atmosphere of the B-line. I also noticed a crossfit business which I assume was meant to attract the various athletes along that frequent the trail. Lastly, I noticed community spaces such as Switchyard Park. This emphasized that the B-line is a place which brings people together and serves as a place to gather.
Implementing New Smart City Strategies
One smart city strategy which could be implemented along the B-line could be solar-powered smart benches which would provide outlets for the community to charge electronic devices as well as a Wifi hotspot. Likely, this would aid in attracting more students to visit the B-line as they would have a peaceful spot outside to do homework when it’s nice out. As a student myself, I love working outdoors but find it difficult to do so due to lack of wifi and outlets. Adding this to the B-line would definitely aid in solving this and attracting more Bloomington community members as a whole to visit the B-line. Furthermore, due to the solar-powered nature of these benches it would be a sustainable addition to the public space and, by attracting people to use these outlets, would hopefully cut down on other unsustainable sources of energy used in Bloomington.
Another smart city strategy which I recommend adding to the B-line would be smart lighting. The smart lighting would brighten based on motion sensors, so when people are going past the lights would be at their brightest. This would aid in the safety concerns which some have when visiting the B-line as the trail will always be bright and well-lit for any community member visiting. Furthermore, having the motion sensors would allow for energy savings as when no one is around the lights will become darker.
Overall, it is clear that the B-line was designed in a strategic manner to encourage community through public spaces and recreation, art, attractive businesses, and much more. However, at the end of the day the more people who go to the B-line the stronger the community feels. The people of the B-line are what makes the experience for me at the end of the day. I look forward to seeing the B-line continue to evolve and grow to build upon the experience which it has created.
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