Additionally, Healthy People 2020 listed “increased legislative policies for the built environment that enhance access to and availability of physical activity opportunities” as a specific travel and transportation policy.Īctive transportation and physical activity is more likely to occur in places with a variety of land uses, a comprehensive network of pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation facilities, inviting street design for all users, and safety measures and Complete Streets policies address all four of those factors (Fenton, 2012). Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Active transportation, or trips made by walking or bicycling, was identified by Healthy People 2020 as a target for measuring progress for healthier people (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). Research suggests that physically active adults “have lower rates of all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, colon cancer, breast cancer, and depression” than their physically inactive peers (U.S.

The connections between physical activity and public health have been widely documented. Complete Streets policies can support planners and engineers in developing roadway designs that improve the safety of all users and provide additional opportunities for physical activity from transportation. A personal vehicle-centric design approach potentially could pose barriers to use by pedestrians, bicyclists and public transportation users, thus limiting active transportation opportunities and potential resulting health benefits. Roadways traditionally have been designed primarily for motor vehicles. Integrate health and transportation planning.Expand bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Encourage and promote biking and walking.

A score of either 0 (no policy) or 100 (policy in place) is provided for this indicator. Data come from the National Complete Streets Coalition’s list of complete streets policies. The Complete Streets Policies indicator provides information on whether or not a state or the metropolitan planning organization that serves the region or a given metro area has adopted a complete streets policy that requires or encourages a safe, comfortable, integrated transportation network for all users, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity, or mode of transportation.

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