U.S. DOT Adopts Complete Streets Policy

Great news for making our communities friendlier for bicyclists and pedestrians!

wheelchair and dog with signU.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood unveiled the Department of Transportation’s Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation, with Regulations and Recommendations that he said marks “the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”

DOT Policy Statement:
“The DOT policy is to incorporate safe and convenient walking and bicycling facilities into transportation projects. Every transportation agency, including DOT, has the responsibility to improve conditions and opportunities for walking and bicycling and to integrate walking and bicycling into their transportation systems. Because of the numerous individual and community benefits that walking and bicycling provide ? including health, safety, environmental, transportation, and quality of life ? transportation agencies are encouraged to go beyond minimum standards to provide safe and convenient facilities for these modes.”

The Statement concludes:
bike and truck; www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan BUrden“Increased commitment to and investment in bicycle facilities and walking networks can help meet goals for cleaner, healthier air; less congested roadways; and more livable, safe, cost-efficient communities. Walking and bicycling provide low-cost mobility options that place fewer demands on local roads and highways. DOT recognizes that safe and convenient walking and bicycling facilities may look different depending on the context ? appropriate facilities in a rural community may be different from a dense, urban area. However, regardless of regional, climate, and population density differences, it is important that pedestrian and bicycle facilities be integrated into transportation systems. While DOT leads the effort to provide safe and convenient accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists, success will ultimately depend on transportation agencies across the country embracing and implementing this policy.”

One sign of DOT’s new thinking came as it awarded $1.5 billion to projects using stimulus funding. Read more.

Read previous posts about Complete Streets:
Are Your Streets Complete?
New Jersey Adopts Complete Streets Policy

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