The case for Complete Streets
Getting around Baton Rouge by means other than driving can be challenging at best. Our streets lack sidewalks and crosswalks, and there are very few connections between neighborhoods, schools and shopping areas. Similarly, bicycling on Baton Rouge streets isn’t for the faint-of-heart. In the absence of a viable network of bike lanes, cyclists must navigate rushing cars and contend with drivers who are often unaware of traffic laws that protect bicyclists. While Baton Rouge residents may be justifiably reluctant to walk or bike, the same cannot be said for our approach to food. We love to eat! And this combination of a low-activity, high-calorie lifestyle is taking a serious toll on our health.
The most recent data shows that nearly 65% of adults in our state are overweight or obese, and 48% of our children are already overweight or obese. Cardiovascular fitness among children in Louisiana is also poor—only 32% of 17-year-olds scored within the Healthy Fitness range during recent school testing. Meanwhile, on our roadways, Louisiana experienced a 30% increase in pedestrian deaths from 2011-2012 and a 50% increase in bicyclist fatalities during that same period. But there are solutions that can help to address all of these troubling statistics.
Adopting and implementing “Complete Streets” policies is a win-win strategy for addressing public health concerns and improving quality of life in our city. Complete Streets (smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets) have features such as sidewalks, crosswalks, street trees, marked paths for bicyclists and wheelchair-accessible curb ramps. Complete Streets projects provide safe passage and increase connectivity to destinations for those traveling by foot or by bike. Most importantly, Complete Streets approaches to road design balance the needs of all users rather than focusing just on the needs of motorists.
Research has consistently demonstrated that bike lanes and sidewalks have a profound impact on human behavior. People will not walk or ride unless it is convenient and they feel safe. If you can’t access a bike path that brings you close to your destination, you’re less likely to bike there. If children don’t have safe routes to school, parents won’t let them walk. Provide sidewalks, trails and bike lanes that connect us to our daily destinations, and more people will choose active modes of transportation. Build it, and they will come.
In addition to helping us be more active on a daily basis, Complete Streets deliver other benefits, such as improved safety. Increases in bicycle and foot traffic also drive economic development—people walking and biking make more stops and spend more money at local businesses than drivers. Furthermore, improving Baton Rouge’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure enhances our economic competitiveness by helping to attract young professionals and aging seniors—two valuable demographics that place a premium on alternative modes of transportation.
Pedestrians and bicyclists also improve public safety by providing “eyes-on-the-street” that deter criminal activity. And even those who will never be coaxed out of their cars should welcome Complete Streets: When more people are choosing to walk or bike, car traffic is reduced and driving is easier.
Advocacy groups such as Bike Baton Rouge and AARP are helping to build support for Complete Streets policies to be adopted, and we see that our government and planning agencies are starting to respond to growing demand. DOTD adopted a Complete Streets policy in 2010; the Capital Area Pathways Project has nearly completed the first phase of a trail connecting Siegen Lane to the Mall of Louisiana; and BREC added almost 85 miles of bike paths and lanes in 2013. Last spring, the Mayor’s Office helped put on the Better Block BR demonstration project on Government Street, which included temporary installation of bike lanes, sidewalks, street trees, parks and outdoor dining spaces. Thousands of people flocked to the event.
This outpouring of enthusiasm sends a clear message: Baton Rouge residents are ready to get out and walk, ride and play. Many of us are willing to balance our fried oysters and beignets with more physical activity—but we need safe and convenient ways to do it. Call your councilperson today and let them know you support Complete Streets.
As executive vice president of the Center for Planning Excellence, Rachel DiResto has developed policy platforms and proactive planning strategies for advancing solutions to complex community and regional planning issues. She currently spearheads the CONNECT Coalition, which is a regional transit and housing coalition advocating for improved connectivity in the Baton Rouge and New Or-leans super-region.
