| Every three days someone is hit while walking or bicycling in Lansing, Michigan, on average. (Lansing Police Department Traffic Crash Reporting System Data) |
| In Lansing, 2.45% of trips are by foot and 0.42% by bike. vs. In Ann Arbor, 15.79% of trips are by foot, and in Madison 3.19% of trips are by bike. (U.S. Census Decennial, 2000) |
Complete Streets Ordinance - Frequent Questions
| The walkability and bikeability of our city shapes our everyday experiences. |
| Lansing Walking & Bicycling Task Force, c/o Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council P.O. Box 17164, Lansing, MI 48901 517-214-5684 jessica@walkbikelansing.com |
| Corbis Royalty Free Photography |
| Photo by Bell Sports/Gareth Walters |
| Photo by Heidi Potter |
| Photo by Steve Longrove |
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| Making Lansing, Michigan Accessible and Walk & Bike Friendly! |
We need potholes filled right away! Will this delay road repairs?
NO. Potholes and road repairs are always a city’s top transportation priority, completed
on a short-term basis. The Complete Streets Ordinance builds an improvement plan
into projects planned over the next 15-20 years to reduce the number of accidents,
increase the opportunity for sidewalk and bike lane use, and improve our
neighborhoods and roadways.
Will this raise my taxes?
NO. Funding for Complete Streets would come from increasing the percentage of the
State Act 51 funds in our existing long-term transportation budget, seeking to make
safer streets and accessible roadways for people of all abilities over the next 15 years.
Are there that many people in Lansing that walk or bike?
YES. Many trips in Lansing are made on foot or bike. There are more than 60,000
children who must walk or be driven to school each day, hundreds of recreational users
seeking safe streets to run, push carriages or bike, and a large volume of seniors that
seek safe walking routes so they can get around without using a car.
What percentage of the Act 51 budget are you proposing to use?
5%. The city currently spends 2-3% on non-motorized transportation work. This new
plan will ask the city to target 5% in their long-range plan to make sure that curbs are
cut for wheelchair access, sidewalks are present and connected, a small number of
streets are striped and signed to include bike lanes, trails will be connected and
commerce areas are improved for walk and bike access for users of all abilities.
I don’t walk and I don’t own a bike. Why should I care?
There are many reasons. Here’s a few to consider:
Safer Streets: On average, someone is hit by a care every three days in Lansing—
that's not safe for walkers, bikers or motorists. We need a smart plan to keep
everyone—including drivers—safe on our streets. Research shows neighborhoods with
increased walkability have more pedestrians, more interaction among neighbors, and
increased safety, too.
Reduced Wear: In cities such as Madison, Ann Arbor, Portland and Denver, when walk
and bike trips increase, wear and tear on roads decreases, enough to observe a
measurable improvement in 5 years. Fewer trips by car means less wear-and-tear on
our roads, our cars, and our construction and improvement budget.
Talent Retention: 79% of professionals rank “walkways and places to walk” very high
on their priority list when reviewing where they want to live and work. We want Lansing
to be at the top of the list when professionals and new businesses decide where they
want to work and play. The Detroit Free Press reported that half of university grads
leave the state upon graduation—we want to keep workers and businesses in Lansing.
Increase Business Sales: Sales increased dramatically in cities with Complete
Streets plans. Bike-friendly communities benefit from increased recreation and tourism
spending, too.
Options for Children and Seniors: Of the 13 pedestrians and bicyclists killed from
2001-2006, most were children and seniors. We can’t change that fact that Lansing
residents use walkways and bikeways often, but we can change whether we create safe
options for their transportation, and for motorists as well.
What is a Complete Street?
A complete street is defined as a design principle to promote a safe network of access
for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
When will this plan be applied?
This plan will be reviewed by the Lansing City Council in the fall of 2009. If enacted by
City Council right away, it will be incorporated 30 days after approval and will be
implemented into city construction and improvement plans once they begin the
following spring.
If not immediately enacted by City Council, voters in the City of Lansing will decide
whether to enact this ordinance in the November 3rd election. If passed, the ordinance
will take effect 30 days later, and will be implemented into city construction and
improvement plans once they begin the following spring.
Can I vote to approve this now?
Not yet! You can contact your city council representative or the mayor of Lansing, and
urge them to support this important ordinance and enact it as soon as they have the
opportunity. You can also volunteer, write a letter in support to the Lansing State
Journal, the City Pulse, Capital Gains, Lansing NOISE or the Community News.
How can I help?
Volunteer to help spread the word by contacting info@walkbikelansing.org. Write an
email or letter to your city council representative or the Mayor. Sign up to circulate a
petition by contacting Amber Shinn, Petition Coordinator, at 517.775.0344 or Amber.
shinn@gmail.com.
I have some suggestions for areas that need some serious improvement.
Who can I tell?
Please send an email with the details to Jessica Yorko at Jessica@walkbikelansing.com
Who is involved in this?
Many groups of concerned people! The Complete Streets Ordinance was developed by
the American Association of Retired People (AARP) and other members of the Walking
& Bicycling Task force.
Members of the task force include the Michigan Department of Community Health,
Ingham County Health Department, People and Land, The Governor’s Council on
Physical Fitness, LEAP, Inc., The American Heart Association, The City of Lansing, Mid-
Michigan Environmental Action Council, the Michigan Environmental Council, The Tri-
County Regional Planning Commission, Tri-County Bicycle Association, Michigan
Department of Transportation, League of Michigan Bicyclists, Community Partners in
Health, and Consumer’s Energy. More info at www.walkbikelansing.com/About_Us
Where can I get more information?
Research facts and get more information at www.walkbikelansing.com.
NO. Potholes and road repairs are always a city’s top transportation priority, completed
on a short-term basis. The Complete Streets Ordinance builds an improvement plan
into projects planned over the next 15-20 years to reduce the number of accidents,
increase the opportunity for sidewalk and bike lane use, and improve our
neighborhoods and roadways.
Will this raise my taxes?
NO. Funding for Complete Streets would come from increasing the percentage of the
State Act 51 funds in our existing long-term transportation budget, seeking to make
safer streets and accessible roadways for people of all abilities over the next 15 years.
Are there that many people in Lansing that walk or bike?
YES. Many trips in Lansing are made on foot or bike. There are more than 60,000
children who must walk or be driven to school each day, hundreds of recreational users
seeking safe streets to run, push carriages or bike, and a large volume of seniors that
seek safe walking routes so they can get around without using a car.
What percentage of the Act 51 budget are you proposing to use?
5%. The city currently spends 2-3% on non-motorized transportation work. This new
plan will ask the city to target 5% in their long-range plan to make sure that curbs are
cut for wheelchair access, sidewalks are present and connected, a small number of
streets are striped and signed to include bike lanes, trails will be connected and
commerce areas are improved for walk and bike access for users of all abilities.
I don’t walk and I don’t own a bike. Why should I care?
There are many reasons. Here’s a few to consider:
Safer Streets: On average, someone is hit by a care every three days in Lansing—
that's not safe for walkers, bikers or motorists. We need a smart plan to keep
everyone—including drivers—safe on our streets. Research shows neighborhoods with
increased walkability have more pedestrians, more interaction among neighbors, and
increased safety, too.
Reduced Wear: In cities such as Madison, Ann Arbor, Portland and Denver, when walk
and bike trips increase, wear and tear on roads decreases, enough to observe a
measurable improvement in 5 years. Fewer trips by car means less wear-and-tear on
our roads, our cars, and our construction and improvement budget.
Talent Retention: 79% of professionals rank “walkways and places to walk” very high
on their priority list when reviewing where they want to live and work. We want Lansing
to be at the top of the list when professionals and new businesses decide where they
want to work and play. The Detroit Free Press reported that half of university grads
leave the state upon graduation—we want to keep workers and businesses in Lansing.
Increase Business Sales: Sales increased dramatically in cities with Complete
Streets plans. Bike-friendly communities benefit from increased recreation and tourism
spending, too.
Options for Children and Seniors: Of the 13 pedestrians and bicyclists killed from
2001-2006, most were children and seniors. We can’t change that fact that Lansing
residents use walkways and bikeways often, but we can change whether we create safe
options for their transportation, and for motorists as well.
What is a Complete Street?
A complete street is defined as a design principle to promote a safe network of access
for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
When will this plan be applied?
This plan will be reviewed by the Lansing City Council in the fall of 2009. If enacted by
City Council right away, it will be incorporated 30 days after approval and will be
implemented into city construction and improvement plans once they begin the
following spring.
If not immediately enacted by City Council, voters in the City of Lansing will decide
whether to enact this ordinance in the November 3rd election. If passed, the ordinance
will take effect 30 days later, and will be implemented into city construction and
improvement plans once they begin the following spring.
Can I vote to approve this now?
Not yet! You can contact your city council representative or the mayor of Lansing, and
urge them to support this important ordinance and enact it as soon as they have the
opportunity. You can also volunteer, write a letter in support to the Lansing State
Journal, the City Pulse, Capital Gains, Lansing NOISE or the Community News.
How can I help?
Volunteer to help spread the word by contacting info@walkbikelansing.org. Write an
email or letter to your city council representative or the Mayor. Sign up to circulate a
petition by contacting Amber Shinn, Petition Coordinator, at 517.775.0344 or Amber.
shinn@gmail.com.
I have some suggestions for areas that need some serious improvement.
Who can I tell?
Please send an email with the details to Jessica Yorko at Jessica@walkbikelansing.com
Who is involved in this?
Many groups of concerned people! The Complete Streets Ordinance was developed by
the American Association of Retired People (AARP) and other members of the Walking
& Bicycling Task force.
Members of the task force include the Michigan Department of Community Health,
Ingham County Health Department, People and Land, The Governor’s Council on
Physical Fitness, LEAP, Inc., The American Heart Association, The City of Lansing, Mid-
Michigan Environmental Action Council, the Michigan Environmental Council, The Tri-
County Regional Planning Commission, Tri-County Bicycle Association, Michigan
Department of Transportation, League of Michigan Bicyclists, Community Partners in
Health, and Consumer’s Energy. More info at www.walkbikelansing.com/About_Us
Where can I get more information?
Research facts and get more information at www.walkbikelansing.com.