Community Values

What we believe

Safe and Comfortable Options For Everyone
We believe that everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or ability, should have access to safe, comfortable, transportation options to places our community lives, works, and meets.

Whether you are scootering along at 3, removing your training wheels for the first time at 5, walking to the beach with your canine friends, or tricycling at 90, we all deserve infrastructure that enables you to be independent throughout all stages of your life, while feeling safe and comfortable.

Design is Fundamental
The design of our places is fundamental to how we interact with them. Imagine the difference between using an iPhone vs programming a VCR – the same amount of difference exists between a well designed trail and a standard sidewalk “trail”. In the case of the trail though, the difference can mean making it home safely or not.

Changes in design of our public lands and right-of-ways can help create friendly neighborhoods, transportation choice, and comfortable (and profitable) public places.

Community is Best When Everyone Can Participate
We believe community is created by making it easy to become involved and interact with your neighbors, no matter your age, race, gender, religion, disability, or background.

The Young. Every child in Florida deserves the right to safely bike to the beach. Older generations of Floridians grew up fishing and roaming their communities. Our modern transportation infrastructure has nearly eliminated this way of life for our children.
Children in the Netherlands are routinely ranked as the happiest children in the world — due to their increased independence to safely travel a bit more freely in their towns. We can have this same access and way of life for our families here.

For The Working. Design chances also enhance community for those of us working and running businesses in town. Entrepreneurship is at an all time low in America – small businesses do best when they have the support of the community. It’s hard to get to know your neighbors unless you actually see and interact with them.
Creating public spaces where people will actually choose to get out of their cars and interact builds trust and friendships. It also helps ensure money is spent locally, furthering help small business. Studies have shown that enhancing biking and walking options increases revenue for local businesses – enough people would rather do a 5 minute bike ride to their local hardware store and support a neighbor than a 5 minute car ride to their national chain big-box store.
On aggregate, this means more money stays in the local economy, and results in stronger local institutions, more secure jobs, and a tighter-knit community.

For The Retired. Many people choose to retire here in Stuart. Unfortunately, as they age-in-place, their access to services wane as driving becomes more difficult. Some still choose to use tricycles or take transit, but the way we’ve developed our infrastructure forces people to become more isolated and less independent. We want to allow everyone to remained as involved as they wish in the community – even as their ability to get around diminishes. Everyone should have the chance to sit around and enjoy coffee and talk with friends on Osceola Street or their corner café – whether they are 25, 50, 75, or 100 years old.