Indianapolis Officials Seek To Spur Energy-Saving Transport

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — City planners hope a change to Indianapolis zoning rules will encourage residents to travel on buses, bicycles, car shares and other methods of energy-saving transportation.

Officials want to offer savings to developers when they scale back the required number of parking spaces and instead offer bike racks, electric-car charging stations or other "green" amenities. The new provision is included in an overhaul of Marion County's 1969 zoning code, which will be considered by the City-County Council for final adoption.

The Indianapolis Star reports that the rezoning rewrite seeks to improve walkability and transportation options in the city and to increase greenspace.

The effort coincides with many of Mayor Greg Ballard's initiatives, including the Indiana Pacers Bikeshare, the BlueIndy car share and the bus rapid transit plan.