While a bill to reauthorize federal transportation funding awaits congressional drafting, public health advocates in communities across the country are urging local lawmakers to adopt laws and policies that support complete streets.
From sidewalks to bicycle lanes and accessible bus shelters, complete streets can improve pedestrian safety while reducing congestion and emissions. They’re also vital to improving public health. And research shows these small steps can make a big difference.
A recent study published in the British Medical Journal investigated the effect of 20 mph speed zones on roadway casualties in London and found that they were associated with a 41.9 percent decrease in road injuries.
Fawn Johnson of the National Journal points out that, “Bike paths and walkways might also lead to jobs.”
Referring to a study out earlier this year, she notes that bike paths and pedestrian trails generate more jobs than road work. For each $1 million spent for cycling projects, 11.4 jobs were created.
For more information, download APHA’s newest factsheet on complete streets and public health.
2 comments
Scoop it says:
Oct 13, 2011
[...] Complete streets vital to improving health | Public Health Newswire While a bill to reauthorize federal transportation funding awaits congressional approval, public health advocates in communities across the country are urging local lawmakers to adopt laws and policies that support complete streets. Source: http://www.publichealthnewswire.org [...]
CCNewsBlog says:
Oct 13, 2011
[...] the country are urging local lawmakers to adopt laws and policies that support complete streets.Show original Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]