Dear Friend of Walkable/Bikable Communities,
East Lansing's Transportation Commission has scheduled a public hearing on a
"Hagadorn Road Diet" (similar to Abbott and Burcham) this coming Monday
October 16th at 7:30pm in the Courtroom at E.L. City Hall.
This is a very exciting and important opportunity to "complete the streets"
in our region - make our roads friendly to all walks of life -- not just
cars.
Please send your comments to the Transportation Commission c/o Todd Sneathen
at tsneath@cityofeastlansing.com
Please cc: scott@keyprintgroup.com
and leroy@leroyharvey.net if it's not
too
much trouble. Scott is one of several commissioners that support this 4 to
3+2 conversion.
I've posted some "talking" points (or should I say, walking points? ; - )
and links below.
Thanks so much,
LeRoy Harvey
www.re-news.net/mocth
www.leroyharvey.net
_i__i__i_ i_ /
/\ /\ /\ /\ O?O
Talking/Walking Points:
Of course, your own words and experiences are best. Even ONE or two
sentences will have an impact.
Send to
tsneath@cityofeastlansing.com (cc Scott and I if it's easy)
Letters from folks who live, school, work, shop, play, and/or walk/bike in
E.L. have more of an impact.
Some of you may have recently responded to Kathy Dunbar's and/or Jessica's
request for Lansing (see latest update at
www.re-news.net/update). These
letters could probably just be tweaked a little for E.L.
It might be helpful to encourage the City to adopt a "complete streets
policy" for all its ~100 miles of streets. See samples at:
http://www.re-news.net/cto/Complete_Streets_Policies.pdf
The 10.3 "healthy community update" has some nice tidbits from John
Lindenmayer on the economic impacts of bicycling:
http://www.re-news.net/update/year2/10-2-06.htm
MidMEAC's website has a nice summary at
http://www.midmeac.org/why.html
Here's the "Sane Lane Changes" article I wrote earlier this summer:
http://www.re-news.net/cto/3plus2.htm which mentions safety, economic, and
health issues. I'll post excerpts below:
Sane Lane Changes
Next week, E. Lansing's Transportation Commission will entertain the
possibility of improving the walkability, bikability, and drivability of its
community. It will consider a "road diet" for Hagadorn Road.
Numerous studies in other communities indicate large benefits from this type
of improvement. Counterintuitively, traffic flow remains about the same.
Why? For one, left-turning cars are removed from the line of traffic with
the addition of a center turn lane. The remaining two auto lanes are more
than enough to handle the majority of car traffic demands.
The good news is that dramatic improvements in safety, walkability, and
bikability are achieved. A study of Abbott Road 10 months before and after
four to three-lane conversion revealed a 44% reduction in overall accidents
after three-lane conversion and a 100% reduction in bicycle-related
accidents.
Four to three-lane conversions create a nice buffer between the sidewalk and
car traffic helping people feel more secure walking. The added bike lanes
provide for easier right hand turns. In addition to improving safety by
taking left-turning cars out of traffic, this third lane also provides a
safer haven for pedestrians attempting to cross busy streets. Some
communities install a median or rain gardens to beautify the road and reduce
noise and pollution.
A team of MSU students and faculty studied the Hagadorn Road Corridor during
2005 and recommended that the community:
· Add bike lanes and reduce car lanes from: 4 to 3
· Explore feasibility of burying power lines
· Improve lighting
· Improve signage to increase visibility of numerous neighborhood
associations and neighborhood parks located in the corridor and alert
drivers of school zones
· Add benches and pedestrian crossings
3+2 is greater than 4
Walkable, bicycle-friendly communities are better places to live, according
to LOTS of people. A recent survey of 13,000+ MI residents revealed that
safe streets and walkability were in the top three of 30 attributes of
preferred places to live. (www.coolcities.com).
A national poll found that
55% of Americans would like to walk more instead of driving and that 52%
would like to bicycle more. Another study of pedestrian-friendly
communities determined that homebuyers were willing to pay a $20,000 premium
for homes in walkable communities.
The health benefits are also motivating folks too. Physical inactivity is
responsible for over 300,000 deaths annually in the U.S., costing Michigan
$8.9 billion in medical costs, lost productivity and workers’ compensation
in 2002. Environments that support walking and biking -- sidewalks, bike
lanes, and connected trail systems are more likely to get folks moving.
Active-friendly communities can address health expenses by...
· Helping build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints.
· Reducing the risk of developing diabetes, colon cancer and high
blood pressure.
· Reducing the risk of dying prematurely.
· Reducing the risk of dying from heart disease.
· Promoting psychological well being.
· Reducing feelings of depression and anxiety.
· Helping control weight.