The places where we live, work, and play have a tremendous impact on our daily physical activity level and the road network is part of the built environment that influences our movement patterns. Complete streets allow safe access to various modes of transportation by all users, regardless of their age or ability. Whether you are a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorist, or transit rider, complete streets foster safe travel through design enhancements such as sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bicycle lanes, and traffic calming measures.
Roadways that were developed during our nation's love affair with cars caused many communities to become automobile dependent. An effort to include other transportation modal choices has been gaining traction since Oregon's bike bill was enacted in 1971. The bill was the first of many legislative efforts to require local funding for pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the public right-of-way...
Roadways that were developed during our nation's love affair with cars caused many communities to become automobile dependent. An effort to include other transportation modal choices has been gaining traction since Oregon's bike bill was enacted in 1971. The bill was the first of many legislative efforts to require local funding for pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the public right-of-way...
The phrase complete streets was first used in 2003 to describe transportation planning and development that gave full consideration to bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Many roadways began to accommodate more than just high-speed vehicles. Last year alone, nearly 130 communities adopted Complete Streets policies. Statewide policies are in place in 27 states and the District of Columbia that allow everyone to safely use America’s roads. Baltimore City has complete streets that allow multi-modal forms of transportation.
Complete Street Slideshow
Baltimore City's Inner Harbor
Baltimore City's Inner Harbor
My college roommate recently visited us from California after running in the Marine Corp Marathon through the streets of Washington, DC. We both graduated from S.U.N.Y College at Cortland as physical education majors. With 30 years of catching up to do, we enjoyed comparing the choices we've made since graduation including where we currently live.
Betty grew up on a dairy farm outside of Buffalo, NY and I grew up in the suburbs of Syracuse. Although there were very few sidewalks near my home, there was little traffic making it easy for me to walk or bicycle to nearly all of the places I wanted to go. In contrast, Betty got most of her physical activity helping around the farm and never learned to ride a bike until she moved to California after college. She now lives at the end of a cul-de-sac and, although she enjoys a beautiful mountain view, Betty relies on a car for all of her transportation needs.
My husband and I raised our children at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Columbia, Maryland. The kids could safely play in the street and walk or bike to friend's houses and neighborhood pools. When our youngest child began college, we moved to downtown Baltimore. Much of the impetus for that move resulted from a desire to get out of my car. Although we had sidewalks and bike paths that we used extensively, I had spent too many hours driving people everywhere they needed to go.
Betty grew up on a dairy farm outside of Buffalo, NY and I grew up in the suburbs of Syracuse. Although there were very few sidewalks near my home, there was little traffic making it easy for me to walk or bicycle to nearly all of the places I wanted to go. In contrast, Betty got most of her physical activity helping around the farm and never learned to ride a bike until she moved to California after college. She now lives at the end of a cul-de-sac and, although she enjoys a beautiful mountain view, Betty relies on a car for all of her transportation needs.
My husband and I raised our children at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Columbia, Maryland. The kids could safely play in the street and walk or bike to friend's houses and neighborhood pools. When our youngest child began college, we moved to downtown Baltimore. Much of the impetus for that move resulted from a desire to get out of my car. Although we had sidewalks and bike paths that we used extensively, I had spent too many hours driving people everywhere they needed to go.
When our kids were in middle and high school I worked in downtown Baltimore for the Maryland Department of Health. During an informal conversation my co-workers had about owning their dream car, I realized my dream was not owning a car at all. There was a Baltimore-based group at that time called One Less Car that is now Bike Maryland. I always thought it would be a worthy goal to make one less car trip each day.
Although I do still drive a car primarily to work, I'm able to get everywhere else on foot in my Baltimore City neighborhood. I'm happy to say that once my husband and I retire, we will be able to easily own one car and walk, bike, or use public transit for nearly all of our transportation needs. And with Zipcar now widely available in Baltimore we could conceivably become car-free in the future.
Even though I don't train for marathons like my college roommate, I do walk everywhere and get plenty of physical activity by "urban hiking" to destinations. People who live in walkable neighborhoods weigh on average seven pounds less than those in car-dependent neighborhoods.
When we were house hunting I checked the walkability of various neighborhoods by typing the addresses of houses we considered buying into the walk score search engine. With a walk score of 95, our home is located in what is considered a walker's paradise and I couldn't be happier. I also viewed Google Earth satellite photos of Baltimore neighborhoods for well marked zebra-striped pedestrian cross walks, another sign of walkability.
Complete streets can be found in urban, rural, and suburban communities. Unlike sprawling communities that are linked to obesity and chronic disease, living in areas with complete streets promotes health especially when these environmental attributes are located within a 10 to 15 minute walk of residences:
Although I do still drive a car primarily to work, I'm able to get everywhere else on foot in my Baltimore City neighborhood. I'm happy to say that once my husband and I retire, we will be able to easily own one car and walk, bike, or use public transit for nearly all of our transportation needs. And with Zipcar now widely available in Baltimore we could conceivably become car-free in the future.
Even though I don't train for marathons like my college roommate, I do walk everywhere and get plenty of physical activity by "urban hiking" to destinations. People who live in walkable neighborhoods weigh on average seven pounds less than those in car-dependent neighborhoods.
When we were house hunting I checked the walkability of various neighborhoods by typing the addresses of houses we considered buying into the walk score search engine. With a walk score of 95, our home is located in what is considered a walker's paradise and I couldn't be happier. I also viewed Google Earth satellite photos of Baltimore neighborhoods for well marked zebra-striped pedestrian cross walks, another sign of walkability.
Complete streets can be found in urban, rural, and suburban communities. Unlike sprawling communities that are linked to obesity and chronic disease, living in areas with complete streets promotes health especially when these environmental attributes are located within a 10 to 15 minute walk of residences:
- residential density
- access to shops / services
- recreational facilities
- public transit facilities
- presence of sidewalks and bike paths
- personal safety
My downtown Baltimore City block is located on a "complete street." The homes were built in the late 1800s and thus pedestrians, horses and carriages were considered in the street design long before cars. With more than 1,100 households in the Federal Hill South Neighborhood Association, we have residential density and no sprawl. Rows of parked cars make pedestrians feel safe on sidewalks and narrow streets slow automobile traffic speeds. Although not visible in this picture, there is mixed-use development including housing, business, and retail establishments within a few blocks of our home. I am truly living in a walker's paradise!
Be Well,
Mary
NOTE: These photos depict the opposite of complete street design where pedestrians are not welcome:
Be Well,
Mary
NOTE: These photos depict the opposite of complete street design where pedestrians are not welcome:
Housing development in Syracuse, NY. Neighborhood looks more welcoming to cars than people; there are no sidewalks for pedestrians.
Atlanta, GA no pedestrian crossing sign. Walking should not be a high-risk sport!
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