30 leaders, 10 organizations, many possibilities.

Inspired by the transformative Think Bike Workshop we hosted in Santa Cruz in 2022, Ecology Action seized an opportunity to build on the momentum by organizing a delegation of Santa Cruz County transportation leaders for a study visit to the Netherlands. Our goal as a delegation was clear—to witness firsthand how Dutch mobility principles are seamlessly integrated into everyday life and to identify opportunities to replicate successful solutions back home.

Learn more about the trip

Our Approach

What makes this effort unique is that to accelerate the shift towards more equitable and sustainable transportation, Ecology Action will draw inspiration from world-class mobility models, like the Netherlands, and facilitate ongoing collaboration with regional partners to adapt and apply these lessons locally. We'll build in regular evaluations to encourage continuous improvement and progress toward tangible results across our region.

Approach diagram

01

Inspiration and Idea Generation

learn about best practices in transportation design through study tours, workshops, and case studies to catalyze bold thinking and visionary leadership around mobility.

02

Policy Review and Adoption

analyze existing policies to identify gaps or misalignment with best practices and recommend updates or creation of new policies aligned with community goals.

03

Funding Strategy and Prioritization

assist in aligning project priorities with funding opportunities including discretionary and competitive grants, and help develop compelling applications integrating data, equity goals, and community priorities.

04

Planning and Design Alignment

support for agency-led planning efforts to align with best practice design principles and facilitate stakeholder engagement to build consensus and strengthen project outcomes.

05

Implementation and Outcomes Tracking

guide projects while navigating challenges related to timelines, budgets, and interagency collaboration and establish metrics for success and capturing lessons learned for future efforts.

06

Continuous Renewal and Improvement

ongoing evaluation of outcomes to refine approaches and identify new opportunities with iterative feedback loops to keep policies, designs, and funding strategies relevant and responsive to evolving needs.

Focus Areas

Based on best takeaways from our study trip to the Netherlands.

Network Planning

allows you to build complete and cohesive active transportation options from anywhere to everywhere via safe, comfortable, and easy routes.

Infrastructure Design

we can build streets to support the behavior we want not accommodate the behavior we have and apply the five principles for bike network design, cohesion, directness, safety, attractiveness, and comfort.

Cycle Highways

allow travel for longer distances, where the emphasis is not speed but minimizing stops and maintaining a steady pace.

Car Management

takes the approach that more space does not equal less congestion. Creating different mobility options helps with traffic management.

Intersection Design

is where we should provide physical protection for our most vulnerable road users including bikes and pedestrians by reducing speed, raising awareness, and increasing safety for all road users.

Pop Up to Permanent Infrastructure + Tactical Urbanism

can provide opportunities to pilot and experiment with different street configurations using cheaper and easier to deploy materials.

School Zones

represent special areas of focus and infrastructure treatment where car traffic should be limited and slow and where comprehensive pedestrian and biking facilities should be deployed.

Project Vision

Imagine a Santa Cruz County where every neighborhood offers safe, comfortable, and convenient ways to move—whether by foot, bike, bus, or other sustainable modes. A place where walking or biking is no longer a risk but a joy, and where our transportation system enhances community safety, equity, and quality of life. We envision a connected transportation system built on robust, sustainable, multimodal mobility that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, fosters healthier lifestyles, and strengthens the connections that make our communities thrive.

I want to contribute!

About the delegation

The delegation had representatives from the Cities of Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, and Santa Cruz, the County of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Transportation Agency of Monterey County, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. While in the Netherlands, our delegation of local leaders, which included elected officials, city planners, and transportation experts, immersed themselves in the world-class Dutch mobility system. Beyond the expert presentations, the value of the trip was in directly experiencing the infrastructure and how it contributes to safety, mobility, and high quality of life. These insights are not just lessons learned but blueprints for the change we aim to implement in Santa Cruz County and beyond.

Project partners

We collaborate with local government, regional agencies, and industry experts.

Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
City of Capitola
City of Santa Cruz
City of Scotts Valley California
City of Watsonville, California
The County of Santa Cruz
Dutch Cycling Embassy
SCCRTC
City of Austin
Transportation Agency for Monterey County
UC Santa Cruz

For more information, reach out

Matt Miller

Director, Mobility Transformation

matt.miller@ecoact.org