B-Line Experience and Design

This journey I can divide it into two parts. First, I  started from the farmer’s market and all the way to Hopstcoch coffee shop. Then we returned to get our car and drove to the switchyard park.

My experience

As I began walking away from the farmer’s market, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a fantastic place to bring people together. Although it was my first time visiting a farmer’s market, there weren’t many people around, likely due to the chilly weather. However, a musician was playing music, which added to the relaxed atmosphere. The overall experience, I think it was really chill and relaxed however, as a person who doesn’t have a car, I feel like it will be hard for me to travel to the B-Line.

 

Places Alongside

– farmer’s market

Between April and October, a farmer’s market will take place in Bloomington, where local vendors will offer products such as vegetables, flowers, honey, and more. Additionally, I noticed that the city government has set up a tent for citizens to share their opinions and communicate with their local government.

– Hopstcoch coffee shop

My favorite coffee shop at Bloomington, I saw there’s another brunch or coffee store alongside with B-Line, which is really good for people who come to B-line and can take a break at the store. This coffee shop can be one of reason people would want visit the B-Line.

switchyard park

We spent

People

I observed that the area was frequented by people jogging, biking, or walking their dogs, with the majority being families or local residents. However, I didn’t come across many students in the vicinity. This made me wonder if there were transportation accessibility issues for students to get to the B-line, which could explain their absence.

Types of Transportation

• bicycles
• pedestrians
• skateboard
• we also saw the golf cars which are for the staff

Connectivity

Regarding public transportation in Bloomington, the only available option is the bus system. To determine the best route to the farmer’s market, I conducted some research and found that I could take any of the 6 available bus routes, and the journey would take approximately 20 minutes, which was shorter than my initial assumption.

Different land uses

• Concert Plaza: a place nearly by switchyard park. which can be used for the some music event, activity used. It’s a good place for people to gather.

1. dog park: I forgot to take pictures but I saw a lot of dogs with their owners. and it’s quite large space for people to let their dogs run
2. Commercial areas: In the commercial areas, as you head towards Hopstoch coffee shop, you will come across more stores, including a hotel and a Kroger supermarket.
   

   Smart city strategies:

   1. Ridesharing station:

   Expanding the accessibility of the B-line by providing bike rental stations along the trail would be an excellent way to enhance the overall user experience of the trail. With the addition of these stations, even those who don’t have bicycles can still enjoy riding alongside the B-line. Incorporating these strategies can also make the trail more sustainable by promoting environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

   2. Smart Kiosk/help station:

   Visiting the B-line at night can be daunting, especially due to the presence of homeless people in the area near Switchyard Park. Even with the city’s efforts to improve safety by installing numerous streetlights, it may not be enough to alleviate safety concerns.

   To address this issue, implementing a self-help and report system could be a possible solution. Such a system would enable users to report any safety concerns or suspicious activity they observe while using the trail, allowing a dedicated team to respond promptly and provide necessary assistance if required. This system can also encourage community involvement in making the B-line a safer place for all users.