Featured Projects:

Regional Planning

Smart Growth Scorecards

Transportation Issues

Workshops

Past Projects

Pace Car

Treasure Valley Futures

Pace Car

Idaho Smart Growth has sponsored a series of workshops on traffic in neighborhoods featuring Australian author David Engwicht. The Neighborhood Pace Car Program is a direct result of these successful workshops. The idea is beautifully simple – encourage people to take individual responsibility for the effect their driving has on the safety and quality of life of other residents. Over 500 people have signed the Pace Car Pledge to obey all speed limits, stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, reduce their car use, and display the Pace Car sticker. ISG provides assistance to Boise residents promoting the Pace Car program throughout the region and we have been contacted by numerous other cities across the West who are catching wind of the program and inquiring how they can initiate it in their community. (For more information, see www.lesstraffic.com.)

Neighborhood Pace Car Program - Neighborhood Traffic Solutions

What is the Pace Car Program?

In June of 2000 David Engwicht met with several residents of Northview Street at Winstead Park. Several of the residents had met with David on his previous trip through Boise and but felt that most of his methods were not workable on Northview Street. One resident mentioned that she was driving up and down Northview, escorting lines of traffic, making them drive the speed limit. Several other residents mentioned that they did the same thing. The idea was born and with David’s help, and the help of Boise City , the Chamber of Commerce and Idaho Smart Growth the program was established. Within four days 200 people had signed pledges and what is now known as the Neighborhood Pace Car Program was on its' way.

The Purpose of the Program

The Pace Car Program has several purposes, among them are:

• To encourage drivers to drive the legal speed limit on neighborhood streets.
• To encourage driver awareness of the neighborhoods and not just the road through the neighborhoods.
• To raise awareness that cars share the road with bicyclists and pedestrians and to promote courteous habits.
• To encourage drivers to consolidate car trips.
• To encourage people to use alternative means of transportation including, but not limited to, the bus, bicycles, walking, and other wheels.

Pace Car Program Benefits

• The Pace Car Program provides many benefits to both the community and to individual drivers.
• The Pace Car Program will save the community real dollars by reducing the amount of money that would be spent of traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, curb bulges and traffic circles.
• The program can free up police officers by reducing the need for them to respond to complaints regarding speeding traffic through neighborhoods.
• As drivers slow down and plan ahead for their car trips, it can help reduce both driver stress and road rage.
• As drivers reduce their car usage there will be less need for additional public parking facilities.
• As drivers use more and more alternative transportation methods, the number of cars on the streets and at traffic lights will be reduced.
• This in turn helps to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

What the Program Needs

• The Pace Car Program needs people who are willing to drive the speed limit and are not afraid to put a Pace Car Sticker on their car. These are people who can lead by example.
• NPCP needs people who are willing to set a good example of what a courteous driver is and not purposely anger or punish other drivers. These are people who willing to show they care about neighborhoods.
• NPCP needs people who want to help make Boise a better and safer place to live and raise families. These are people who are willing to be part of the solution.
• NPCP needs people who understand that ACHD and Boise City Police cannot be expected to solve all traffic problems. These are people who know that each individual is responsible for their driving habits.