LeRoy Harvey: Hagadorn Road, others could use a bit of dieting

Hagadorn Road is just one of many roads in our region that could benefit from a "road diet." Road diets, which typically include two bike lanes and three car lanes, are becoming very popular around the U.S. for several reasons:

• Pedestrian safety.

Bike lanes create a buffer between pedestrians and cars. Pedestrians also find it easier to negotiate one lane of cars at a time - rather than four. When more people are out walking and biking in the neighborhood, crime rates go down.

• Exceptional traffic flow.

Road diets work on roads with up to 25,000 average daily trips or more. At 14,000 to 17,000, Hagadorn volumes are 1,000-4,000 fewer than the level (18,000) at which roads "may start to experience an increases in cut through traffic and congestion."

• Bicycle and driver safety.

Studies of similar conversions around the country indicate a reduction in accidents of 30 percent to 60 percent. Abbott Road experienced a reduction in accidents and a 25 percent increase in car volume during the four-year period following its conversion.

• Economy.

"Walkable communities" and "safe streets" are in the top three quality-of-life factors desired in a recent survey of 10,000 Michigan residents. Bikeable and walkable communities are also more affordable and accessible to people who don't or can't drive.

• Global stewardship.

Instead of the biggest gas guzzler and CO2 belcher in the world, let's make America more energy independent and a leader in curbing greenhouse gas emissions. If each resident of Ingham County replaced one car trip with one bike trip just once a month, we'd cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 10,426 tons of per year.

• Health.

Walking and biking are great ways to get exercise year-round. Cardiovascular disease and stroke are reduced when the local community environment supports active living. Smog and air pollution are also reduced if more people walk and bike.

• Youth.

Michigan has millions of dollars available that can be spent on infrastructure improvements that improve safe routes to schools - like the ones proposed for Hagadorn.

Communities around the world are embracing "complete streets" for lots of reason. Let's "complete" Hagadorn and other streets in our region - for the economy, the environment, the community, and for the health of it!

For more on complete streets, visit www.complete streets.org.