This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: What are “Complete Streets”? What makes a street incomplete?
Complete Streets, simply put, are roadways that are designed with all users in mind. This does not mean all car users, but rather all users, no matter their mode of transportation.
A Complete Street includes and accounts for the needs of people who choose to walk, bike, take public transit, or drive, in that order of priority. Designing roadways in an inclusive manner supports people of all ages and abilities to safely and enjoyably access the things they need.
In the United States, engineering has prioritized cars for decades, and the needs of people using other forms of transportation have not been prioritized in road design. As a result, many neighborhoods have been splintered and disconnected from one another by high volume, fast traffic and wide roads. Biking, walking, public transit and ADA accessibility (access for those with limited mobility) became secondary to cars, thus leaving many people to fend for themselves and ultimately stop walking and biking to even nearby destinations. Roadways that place cars as the top priority at the expense of the other modes are incomplete streets.
A Complete Street puts people over cars (and yes, this includes when people drive cars, too!). With appropriate planning, a Complete Street relieves traffic congestion, buses run on schedule, people of all abilities can cross streets comfortably, and people riding bikes are safely incorporated into traffic. Having a variety of transportation options allows people to make choices and to take control of accessing goods, services and employment.
As the cost of owning a motor vehicle rises (according to AAA, the average cost of car ownership is $9,122 a year!), more and more families need more sustainable, affordable options. By implementing Complete Streets, a city fosters equal opportunity among all residents. While individual residents certainly benefit from Complete Streets, entire cities experience economic invigoration as private investments and property values rise.
Fortunately, the City of St. Louis adopted a Complete Streets Policy in June 2010. The policy declares that the Complete Streets concept is to be used as a “guiding principle” as different parts of the city are due for construction and repairs. In other words, St. Louis’ Complete Streets Policy takes the long view; no new costs will be brought on by the policy. Rather, the policy will be incorporated into design as repairs to infrastructure are needed. As you travel between work, home, school, and errands (no matter your mode of transport), take a close look at your surroundings.
Is there ample sidewalk, with wheelchair accessibility on the curb? Does traffic move at a reasonable pace? Is it easy to cross the street? Can buses maneuver efficiently? Are bicycles given the space they need on the road? If you see problems or potential hazards that affect you and the people you care about, the implementation of Complete Streets will ease the burdens faced by residents on a daily basis.
On paper, the idea of a Complete Street sounds great, but you may be wondering what they actually look like. There is no hardline, pre-determined design for a Complete Street. For them to be effective, they must be tailored to the specific needs of a community. What may function as a Complete Street for one neighborhood might not necessarily work in another (click here for photo examples from the National Complete Streets Coalition).
The variation among successful Complete Streets is part of what makes them beautiful. Roads should be designed to build community and allow every resident to access the things they need. In this way, we all become connected to our city, neighborhoods, and one another in new ways—something Dave and Gus, featured above, experience every day.
Molly Pearson is an American League of Bicyclists’ certified instructor, and serves as TravelGreen Program Coordinator at Trailnet. The mission of Trailnet is to lead in fostering healthy, active, and vibrant communities where walking, bicycling, and the use of public transit are a way of life. She will be writing Voices articles to raise awareness and understanding of bicycling conditions in St. Louis, and how such conditions affect all roadway users.