[From my January 21 column in the Colchester Bulletin]
In recent years, the United States seems to be slowly catching on to the worldwide movement known as “complete streets”. More than just an effort to add sidewalks and bikeways to roads, it is an overall philosophy that seeks to improve the livability of our communities. By making thoroughfares more accessible and inviting to alternative modes of transportation, a whole host of benefits come flooding in: from improved health and a cleaner environment to economic development and enhanced safety.
When people are restricted to traveling by car, whether by dangerous situations, long distances or other barriers, they lose their connections to the surroundings. One simple example is the success of malls and the associated struggles of local stores. Why hop in your car from store to store in your community when you can simply park in the vast sea of spaces outside of a mall and complete all of your tasks in one fell swoop?
If there were safe, interconnected routes locally, people could shop in their own community without having to get in their cars, drawing additional shopkeepers and greater diversity as well. With the added benefits of exercise and reduced carbon emissions, this is clearly a winning strategy.
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It is no wonder then that cities around the world have been doing all they can to support biking and walking as integral and necessary modes of transportation – far more than recreational activities. In Amsterdam, it has become such a part of the culture that nearly 40 percent of all commutes are done by bicycle. Copenhagen, Denmark encourages biking through free bike rental stations at convenient locations throughout the city, resulting in approximately 32 percent of people biking to work. Once each week, 70 miles of roads are closed to vehicles in Bogota, Colombia, allowing bikers, walkers, skaters and more to rule the roadways.
Yet, among the top ten rated cities with regards to bike friendliness, only one U.S. city made the cut. Not surprisingly, perennially-progressive Portland, Oregon came in at number six, with its more than 260 miles of trails and paths, and its policy of providing low-cost bikes and accessories to those who might otherwise not be able to afford them.
This past summer, however, Connecticut took a big step forward by becoming only the tenth state in the country to sign into law an act that incorporates the complete streets policy into future state and municipal infrastructure projects. While the ultimate language of the bill enables some to skirt the spirit of the law, it generally mandates that at least one percent of each project’s budget must be spent on alternative transportation measures, such as bikeways and sidewalks. It also created a state board of experts in the field to review the state’s progress and make recommendations on implementation.
Here in Colchester, community leaders and town staff have already begun to look at these issues. Many successful grants, as well as ones in the works, seek to address these very issues. From the addition of sidewalks in the downtown area, to increased signage, to policy development regarding zoning, the goal is to bring more activity and vitality to the center of town.
One of the great things about a movement like complete streets is its ability to breed further success. As traffic at local shops grows, new shops are eager to move in; which in turn draws the interest of more people, and the cycle continues on. And while the economic strength of the community rises, so does its health and physical activity.
For more information on the complete streets movement, visit http://www.completestreets.org .
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