In 1995, only 6.2 percent of trips in the U.S. were made by walking or biking. In 2009, that percentage was 11.9 percent - a 92 percent increase! Over that time, there has also been a decline in the number of pedestrian and bicycle injuries and deaths. In 1993, a staggering 5,638 pedestrians and 814 bicyclists were killed in crashes with cars and trucks. In 2008, those numbers had dropped to a still-much-too-high 4,378 pedestrians and 716 bicyclists-a combined decrease of 21 percent.
Great news for those interested in being able to safely walk and bike in their neighborhood! On May 15, Governor Pawlenty signed the transportation policy bill, which included a state Complete Streets policy. The new Complete Streets policy calls for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) to build roads with all people in mind--regardless of age or ability or whether traveling by car, foot, bus, or bike.
A new national poll released yesterday by Transportation for America shows that people are ready for a change in our transportation system:
A new report from the National Resources Defense Council highlights the absolute cost of our dependence on oil. In Minnesota, the average driver in 2008 spent $2,354 a year, or 5.5 percent, of their income on gasoline, which was 25th in the country. Drivers in Mississippi spent the highest percentage of their income - 9.14 percent - while those in Connecticut spent the lowest at 3.24 percent. While gasoline topped more than $4 a gallon in July of 2008, these data are based on the average cost of gasoline in 2008, which was $2.77 a gallon (or 10 cents a gallon less than the U.S. average right now).
Complete Streets means that our roads are designed and operated to be safe and accessible for pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists, and drivers - all users, regardless of age or ability. Why is this important? Because too often we build roads that simply aren't safe for pedestrians, people with disabilities, bicyclists, transit riders, and older drivers. Everyone is impacted by "incomplete" streets, which lead to more injuries, fatalities, and very real barriers in our transportation system.
Last Thursday, 40 people came out for an introductory meeting that hailed the beginning of the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition. Complete Streets means that our streets and roadways are designed and operated to be safe and accessible for pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists, and drivers-all users, regardless of age or ability.
Last night, the Hennepin County board unanimously passed a Complete Streets policy (pdf) that "will enhance safety, mobility, accessibility and convenience for all corridor users including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, motorists, commercial and emergency vehicles, and for people of all ages and abilities by planning, designing, operating, and maintaining a network of Complete Streets." Hennepin County joins the City of Rochester as the first two jurisdictions in Minnesota to pass explicit Complete Streets policies. St. Paul has also passed a Complete Streets resolution and will have a full policy in place by the end of the year.
On Monday, President Obama gave an impassioned speech on urban policy (watch or read full speech here) that included a continued push for more livable communities built around accessible transportation options.
"Pay-as-you-drive" insurance (PAYD) provides an alternative to standard flat-fee insurance and has been shown to save drivers money and cut driving, gas consumption, and global warming pollution. This is the type of win-win policy that just makes sense as we move forward toward reduced oil dependence. While many states--including Minnesota--have experimented with small-scale pilot projects in PAYD, California is now working on a statewide policy that would enable more widespread use. They have a public comment period open now and will likely have a policy by the end of the year. Minnesota needs to also take steps to move beyond pilot project to a more supportive statewide enabling policy.
If you haven't heard of PAYD before and are interested in more details, I would suggest the Environmental Defense Fund's summary.
Fresh Energy Blog