Trails advisory committee pushes outreach beyond existing riders

The Indianapolis City trails advisory committee on Monday urged broader outreach after members said two recent public meetings were attended almost entirely by cyclists.

Chair Damon Richards said the turnout at the meetings “was almost exclusively bike riders,” and asked the group to help the city reach walkers, runners and others who do not already use trails. “How do we reach other people with this information and get their input into this process?” Richards asked.

The committee discussed a short-term plan of roadshows and tabling at community events, neighborhood associations and 5Ks, and the development of an “engagement toolkit”—a concise packet of talking points, activities and questions staff and volunteers could use at pop-up events. Daniel Henchman, a staff member working with the committee, said, “we have kind of a heightened focus on how we can bring feedback into the plan over the next 2 to 3 months.”

Members suggested recruiting existing distribution channels—running clubs, bike rental and bike-share operators, neighborhood advocates and civic organizations—to reach people who do not attend public meetings. One committee member recommended tabling at community events and using quick interactive activities (“sticky notes or tabs”) to solicit input rather than lengthy surveys.

The committee also discussed using a small stipend or gift card to recruit volunteer ambassadors to staff outreach events. Richards asked members to spend time in the coming week identifying organizations, events and festivals the committee should prioritize; staff said they are building a calendar of outreach opportunities and will share it with the group.

Next steps recorded in the meeting include finalizing the engagement toolkit and coordinating outreach for the coming months; committee members were asked to return suggested contacts and events to staff by the following week.