Wisconsin Complete Streets Network

Guest post written by Julie Logue, Technical Assistance Coordinator for Physical Activity, Communities Putting Prevention to Work program at the WI Department of Health Services.

What if these roads had been constructed with people in mind or Complete Streets? Pedestrians, children, seniors, bicyclists, and people using wheelchairs can safely move along and across a complete street. Bikeable/walkable roads have been shown to reduce injuries to pedestrians, improve air quality and make it possible for our children to be active. Research shows that people who live in neighborhoods with complete streets get an average of 30-45 minutes more exercise per week than those who do not. When roads are made safe for bicycling and walking, more people choose to use them. By improving the “built environment,” communities improve the health of people in their communities as well. While individuals are responsible for their own health, communities can encourage healthy behaviors by the policies they create.

We are lucky to have a strong state Complete Streets Law in Wisconsin, but in La Crosse County, for example, 53% of road projects use local funding and wouldn’t be covered by our state and federal Complete Streets laws. Through the adoption of local complete streets policies, we can create a seamless network of cities, towns, streets and highways that encourage people to walk out their front doors and be active.

To help support Complete Streets, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, in partnership with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, has formed a state-wide Complete Streets Network. Complete Streets state-wide networking calls are hosted bi-monthly, and are open to individuals throughout the state who are interested in learning more about the benefits of local Complete Streets policies, and how individuals and organizations can effectively develop Complete Streets initiatives in their communities. To join or learn more about the Complete Streets network, please contact Julie Logue via email at julie.logue@wisconsin.gov. To learn more about La Crosse’s Complete Streets initiative, please contact Jack Zabrowski at zabrowski.jack@co.la-crosse.wi.us. You can follow progress in La Crosse by visiting the “LaCrosse Complete Streets” Facebook page, and/or the GetActive La Crosse website.

Photo from pedbikeimages.org