PedNet Project now GetAbout Columbia

The program encourages residents to bike or walk instead of drive.

By Kyle Daly

Published Nov. 30, 2007

City officials agree that it is time for Columbia residents to "get about."

On Wednesday afternoon, city officials unveiled the new name and logo of the PedNet Project, Columbia's federally funded nonmotorized transportation pilot program, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project's new office. The Columbia Public Works Department organized the event.

Upon walking into the new office at 101 Seventh St., Columbia residents and city officials were greeted by event organizers wearing T-shirts bearing the new name and logo — GetAbout Columbia. The new name and logo — written in red, orange and blue letters — also comes with a new slogan: "See where it takes you."

In a speech delivered before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor Darwin Hindman discussed the benefits of the name change.

"We hope that this new name will help citizens identify with and relate to the initiative in a fun and positive way," Hindman said.

Advertising firm Vangel Marketing Communications created the project's new title and logo.

Mike Vangel, senior creative director and strategist for Vangel Marketing Communications, said there were a couple of reasons the new name was chosen.

"The first reason is that GetAbout Columbia is a lot more fun and memorable than the Federal Highway Administration's Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program," Vangel said. "More importantly, GetAbout Columbia conveys an attitude that we want to promote to everyone. It represents a positive, simple and fun approach to living."

Columbia Public Works Department spokeswoman Jill Stedem said the name change is also meant to end the confusion between the pilot program, which was nicknamed the PedNet Project, and the PedNet Coalition, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2000 and meant to promote nonmotorized transportation development and education within Columbia.

Some Columbia residents said they did not know the difference between the two, Stedem said.

The original office of the pilot program was located in City Hall. Stedem said the old office did not have enough room for project members to work in.

The location on Seventh Street was both available and nearby, she said.

Hindman said the new office would be used in a variety of ways.

"This office will serve as a place to plan and coordinate infrastructure and as a location for classes, workshops and activities relating to the program," he said.

In 2006, Columbia was one of four cities in the U.S. chosen to participate in the Federal Highway Administration's Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program.

Hindman said the program was not designed to help Columbia. It was a program added to a highway transportation bill, which was signed into law by President George Bush in August 2005 in order to look at what could be done with highway congestion.

The program is meant to encourage a "modal shift," which is defined as the public's willingness to consider and experience the benefits of walking and biking, Hindman said.

The city was given a federal grant of $22 million and is now fully dedicated to the development of nonmotorized transportation. This process involves the construction of both urban and natural trails for walking and bicycling. Construction of more than 100 miles of new bikeways, pedways and sidewalks is planned. In addition, bicycle parking spaces will increase from 100 to 1,000 in the downtown area.

The overall purpose of the pilot program is to see if such development reduces motorized transportation pollution and increases the physical health of members of the community.

"Columbia will help establish national standards regarding the public awareness and acceptance and willingness to incorporate these active modes of transportation into our daily lives," Hindman said. "I am firmly convinced that it is going to benefit the community enormously."