LIVABLE STREETS CAMPAIGN by Crystal Kelly
The Livable Streets Campaign offers a reasonable solution to the problems that our country is facing. The mission of the Livable Streets Campaign is dedicated to changing Americas streets, and promoting alternative methods to traditional automobile travel. This vision includes people of all age, ability and economic status. The way people are traveling has changed, therefore streets need to be rebuilt to reflect this change, and make the streets of our communities safer and more accessible for all. This includes repaving streets and sidewalks and including mixed bicycle lanes and paths for mixed use, wheelchair ramps and curb cuts, and driving lanes for buses and cars. This campaign is taking all people into account, so that we may live in a more sustainable and user friendly environment (livablestreets.edu).
There are many statistics that show the need for livable streets and why this would be important to people. According to LivableStreets.Info, the Livable Streets Campaign website, the number of trips on bicycle doubling between 1990 and 2009, sales of new cars have almost halved in the U.S, down from nearly 11 million in 1985 to about 5.5 million in 2009. A study of more than 18,000 middle-aged women found that those who bicycled regularly put on less weight as they aged Also, in just one U.S. generation, the percentage of kids who walk and bike to school has dropped from 50% to 15%, while childhood obesity has tripled. This is a scary statistic, when these children become adults, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases will have run rampant among the population. Bicycling for transportation can reduce mortality by 35 to 40%. Additionally¸the average American household spends over $8,000 per year on owning and driving their cars. It costs about $300 a year to maintain a bike. Also, the average American household will spend $2,200 on gas each year, while jobs that are road-only, like repaving and widening of streets will create 11.4 jobs for every $1 million invested — 46% more than car-only road projects and the second reason is that with bicycle and pedestrian projects, a higher percentage of materials can usually be purchased in-state, creating more jobs locally (smartgrowthamerica.org). Another good reason that Livable Streets is something communities should seriously consider adopting is that transportation is the largest expense most households in the U.S. have, with the costs being higher than food, clothing and healthcare (livablestreets.info).
Missouri state leaders are beginning to see the health benefits of promoting biking and walking among its citizens, although this is a nationwide campaign with many states and communities adopting livable streets policies. Putnam County, Missouri is one of many counties who would like to see these policies put into action. Putnam County has a population of 4,759 people, with many of these people living in rural areas. Some may think this is a good reason not to adopt livable streets policies, but the opposite is true. One town in particular that would like to implement these changes is Unionville, MO. This is a small town consisting of approximately 1,821 people. Unionville is a small rural community located in Northeast Missouri. There are many reasons why Livable Streets policies will be good for the community. Putnam Countys sidewalks and streets are in major need of repair. Also, there are no biking lanes or walking trails, therefore there is not much incentive to get out and be active. Many children have to walk to school in towns such as Unionville, and there are hardly any crosswalks and the sidewalks are broken and erratic within these communities. This makes an unsafe and unfriendly environment that kids are walking to and from school in. Increasing the likelihood that more children will walk or bike to school is a way to fight childhood obesity. This in turn will improve public health overall as these children become adults. If the epidemic of obesity is not stopped, rates of heart disease and diabetes will continue to rise, thus creating the unhealthiest generation of Americans yet (cdc.gov).
This means soaring health care costs for Americans (cdc.gov), and this includes the residents of Putnam County. It is so important for our children and the future generations to come that something is done to curb the obesity epidemic. Many health issues such as smoking and drug use have been targeted heavily by communities and lawmakers while overlooking the seriousness of obesity in America. Creating livable streets in communities such as Putnam County is an active way for communities and lawmakers to address the issue of obesity and create a real solution for people to improve their health.
Putnam County is a prime place for the implementation of these policies. Within Putnam County there is a large population of the elderly and the young. There are 1,062 residents who are age 65 or older. There is a population of 1,160 who are age 18 and under. Given the large number of elderly and children, accessible streets are most definitely important for the well being of the community. The streets have not been truly repaired for a long time, and given the dynamics of the population there is a real need for accessible streets for people no matter what their abilities may be. The Livable Streets Campaign taking place in Putnam County is a good way for people to get out and make a difference in their own lives and the lives of the people they care about, whether it be their children, grandparents or a disabled friend. Livable Streets creates beautiful communities, creates jobs, fights chronic disease, creates a cleaner environment overall and increases mobility in those with limited access.
Many communities within Missouri have adopted Livable Streets policies and the benefits of change are numerous, Putnam County would be in the forefront of Northern Missouri for positive change, as no other communities in this part of the state have adopted these policies as yet. Support the Putnam County Livable Streets Campaign, so that we can achieve a healthier Putnam County, one street at a time.
References:
Centers for Disease Control. (2011). Retrieved September 2011, from www.cdv.gov
Dodds, A. (2011, June
28). Smart Growth America. Retrieved October 12, 2011, from New report
reveals bike and pedestrian projects create more jobs than those for cars only:
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/author/alex-goldschmidt/
Livable Streets. (2011). Retrieved October 12, 2011, from
http://livablestreets.info/links/topics
livablestreets.missouri.edu. (2011). Retrieved October 12, 2011, from Missouri
Livable Streets: http://livablestreets.missouri.edu/
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