Biking and Walking
Slowing Traffic |
Sidewalks | Crosswalks
| Bike Routes
Health and Transportation Linked
In our communities we face two major challenges that are
linked: a health crisis and growing transportation problems.
- We've got an obesity epidemic that spans all age groups,
and health care costs are skyrocketing.
- Our neighborhoods are choked by traffic congestion.
- Speeding vehicles and busy intersections often make
it unsafe for any of us to walk or bicycle.
There is plenty of evidence that shows we can prevent
many health problems simply by being more active. It doesn't
take a lot: regular daily activity of even 1/2-hour for
adults is enough to make big differences. This is what
the public health people call "active living."
The best way for most of us to stay active, they say,
is to take a daily walk or bike ride.
Changing The Rules
How can you have a wider impact on your neighborhood and
community?
By helping to change the rules of the game. Many people
focus on one specific project that they want to see created.
It might be a trail, a crosswalk, or a traffic signal.
But focusing on one goal can be limiting.
Also think about having a "policy focus." In
other words, if you can change the rules by which transportation
decisions are made or streets are built, you can have
a much broader effect than if you focus solely on one
particular project. With the right policies in place,
you can help assure that future projects will be better
and that improvements to existing facilities will be done
correctly. Plus, you won't have to pay so much attention
to individual projects.
Some examples:
If the local public works department included
bicycle lanes in its standard arterial street plans, bike
lanes would be considered whenever arterials were built
or improved.
If your city's standard design for drainage grates was
"bicycle-safe," that would assure long-term
improvements all over the community.
This approach is called "institutionalization."
It involves first laying groundwork by getting to know
key people in the relevant agencies and gaining their
trust. It also takes patience and a willingness to do
some homework, such as reading your community's "Long
Range Transportation Plan" (see Community
Master Planning).
Note: You'll need Adobe
Acrobat Reader in order to read the items listed above.
If you don't have Acrobat Reader already installed on
your computer, you can get it here.
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