Making the Case for Sticky Community Design

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1 Making the Case for Sticky Community Design _ Active Communities Action Institute Bozeman, MT March 2015 A delightfully wet ride in Great Falls.

3 The common challenges: Isn t health a result of personal decisions & habits? If we build it, will they come? (People are basically lazy...) Shouldn t the free market dictate how we build our cities & towns? So, what is your prescription for healthy design (& how do we get there)? Walking home from school.

4 Youthful recollections

5 Changes in Walking & Cycling to School, 1969 to 2001 Ham et.al., Jour. of Physical Activity & Health, 2008, 5, % of students age Car Bus W/B W/B = Walk/Bike

6 Trends in Childhood Obesity & Overweight CDC, National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Examination Surveys (NHANES) II (ages 6 11) and III (ages 12 17), and NHANES I, II and III, and

7 The real risk kids face Nov-2009 freerangekids.org

8 Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP; New.Eng.J.Med., Feb. 7, 2002) Control: counseling + placebo Drug: counseling + Metformin Lifestyle: nutrition min. PA Compared three treatments for nationwide cohort (3,000+) at risk for Type II diabetes (elevated fasting glucose).

9 Diabetes Risk Reduction (Diabetes Prevention Program; NEJM, Feb. 2002) % Reduction of Risk 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Risk Reduction Metformin Lifestyle Relative to Control Group (standard intervention)

10 The Rant: Change our thinking. It s not just an obesity epidemic. It s twin epidemics of physical inactivity and poor nutrition.* * Two of the three biggest drivers of skyrocketing healthcare costs.

11 The bad news in just three numbers: 30 minutes of daily physical activity recommended (60 min for youth). < 20 % of American adults actually meet these recommendation (thru LTPA). 365,000 Estimated annual deaths in America due to physical inactivity & poor nutrition. (2 nd only to tobacco.)

Surgeon General s Report 1996 Physical Activity Guidelines 2008 www.health.gov/paguidelines 150 minutes/week of moderate physical activity; more is better. Any activity is better than none.

12 Surgeon General s Report 1996 Physical Activity Guidelines minutes/week of moderate physical activity; more is better. Any activity is better than none. Can be broken up. 300 min/week for children. Reduced risk for CVD, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, dementia in old age, clinical depression, a growing list of cancers... This counts! (Billings)

13 Leisure Time Physical Activity in the US (MMWR: 50(09), 166-9; 54(39), 991-4) 50 Inactive Sufficiently Active % of US Population

14 But in the end... It s a matter of personal choice, isn t it?

15 Exercise Participation Effect of Short Bouts, Home Treadmills (Jakicic et.al., J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 282, 16) 240 Exercise (min/wee ? LB SB SBT months

16 Exercise Participation Effect of Short Bouts, Home Treadmills (Jakicic et.al., J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 282, 16) Exercise (min/wee LB SB SBT months

17 A realization: Simply teaching people to exercise is not enough. We need to support increases in routine, daily physical activity for everyone.

18 Social Ecology Model Sallis & Owen, Physical Activity & Behavioral Medicine. Individual motivation, skills Interpersonal - family, friends, colleagues Institutional - school, work, health care & service providers Community - networks, facilities Public Policy - laws, ordinances, Determinants of behavior change permitting practices & procedures

19 Easier to Implement Individual motivation, skills Interpersonal - family, friends, colleagues Greater Impact Institutional - school, work, health care & service providers Community - networks, facilities Public Policy - laws, ordinances, permitting practices & procedures

20 Socio-ecological successes? Tobacco use Seatbelts, child safety restraints Water-borne disease Haiti Recycling

21 Thanks to Prof. Ross Brownson, Wash. Univ., St. Louis

22 Necessary and important, but not enough. > Helena < We must build communities where people are intrinsically more active.

23 The healthy trip decision hierarchy * : Walk Bike Transit *Nearly 25% of all trips are one mile or less; roughly 40% are two miles or less! (Nat l Household Transportation Survey) Drive

24 If we build it, will they come?

Designs are functional & inviting for pedestrians, bicyclists, & transit users. 4.

25 YES! Four elements: 1. Varied destinations within walk, bike, & transit distance. 2. Connecting facilities: trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, transit. 3. Designs are functional & inviting for pedestrians, bicyclists, & transit users. 4. Safe & accessible for all ages, incomes, abilities CDC Guide to Community Preventive Services Denton TX Elizabethtown Harlowton

26 In planner language: Roundup Mix of land uses; varied destinations. Network of bicycle, pedestrian, & transit facilities. Functional site designs & details. Universal safety & access.

27 1. Land use. Live, work, shop, play, learn, pray. Compact neighborhoods,... shared open space. Schools, shopping, health care... Mixed use, multifamily. Civic anchors in proximity.

28 2. Network of facilities: Presence of sidewalks, paths, bicycle lanes. Shorter blocks, more intersections. Access to trail, park, greenway, transit.

2005. Just during the daily walk to transit: Half of

29 Transit riders are physically active. Besser, Dannenberg, Amer. J. Prev. Med., 29 (4), Nov Just during the daily walk to transit: Half of transit riders walk at least 19 mins. 29% get at least 30 mins. of activity. Minorities, poor (income <$15k/yr.), denser urban dwellers more likely to get 30+ mins./day. Appleton WI

30 Bicycle network Sharrow options: Bike lanes Shoulders

31 Bike lane American River Trail Sacramento, CA Protected bike lane

32 3. Site Design: Bemidji Billings Which setting is more inviting for travel on foot or by bicycle?

33 3. Site Design: Bemidji Lewistown Which setting is more inviting for travel on foot or by bicycle?

Site design Research & practice suggest:

Trees, benches, lighting, awnings, human

34 Site design Research & practice suggest: Portland, OR Billings Buildings near the sidewalk, not set back; parking on street or behind. Trees, benches, lighting, awnings, human scale. Details: bike parking, open space, plants, art, materials.

35 Possible incentives: Decrease, share parking (include bike racks). Build-to lines. Mixed-use, multi-story, w/ residential density bonus. Expedite permits. Appleton WI Neenah WI You must support elected & appointed officials if you expect them to act! Donald Shoup, The High Price of Free Parking

36 4. Safety & access. Engineering can markedly improve safety. Median islands Increasing pedestrian and bike trips decreases overall accident & fatality rates. Roundabout Curb extensions (Jacobsen P, Injury Prevention, 2003; 9: )

37 Lane re-alignments 5 or 4 lanes reduced to 3, road diets. Reduces collisions & severity. Improves performance for pedestrians, bikes. Urbana, IL; before & after.

38 E.g. Shelby Main Street - bike lanes? Parking 9 ; Bike Lane 6 ; Travel Lane 13 Total = ~ 56

39 Billings Could 1 st Ave. S. go on a diet?

40 Hutchinson, KS. E. Avenue A; other fourlane roads.

41 E. Avenue A, Hutchinson, KS they did it!

42 Diagonal parking increases on-street capacity, but... Des Moines, IA Reverse angle: Fewer, less severe collisions. Safer for bikes & pedestrians. Slows traffic.

43 Four Elements of Healthy Community Design: Ped, bike, & transit network Mix of destinations Safety & access Site design

44 Shouldn t the free market dictate how we build our cities & towns?

45 Economics. Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Housing Values in U.S. Cities (CEOs for Cities report)* walkscore = 12 walkscore = 72 Higher score = $4,000-$34,000 home value *

On Common Ground Nat l Assoc. of Realtors pub.; Summer 2010 www.realtor.

46 On Common Ground Nat l Assoc. of Realtors pub.; Summer The Next Generation of Home Buyers: Taste for urban living. Appetite for public transportation. Strong green streak. Plus, Americans are driving less overall!

Study of street redesigns in NYC: Pre- and post-project measurement of retail revenue. E.g. pedestrian plazas, bike paths, redesigned intersections, BRT.

47 Study of street redesigns in NYC: Pre- and post-project measurement of retail revenue. E.g. pedestrian plazas, bike paths, redesigned intersections, BRT... Improvement areas exceeded borough & control area averages. nyc.gov/dot

48 Benefits of protected bike facilities BikeWalkAlliance.org GreenLaneProject.org Support real estate values. Recruiting & retaining skilled employees. Healthier, more productive workers. Increased retail revenue.

Smart Growth & Economic Success www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/economic_success.htm Dec.

49 Smart Growth & Economic Success Dec Benefits to developers, realtors, investors, local governments: Less infrastructure in compact development. Walkability premium. Flexibility & choice.

Smart Growth: The Business Case www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/economic_success.htm Nov.

50 Smart Growth: The Business Case Nov Beneficial to: Creative economy, productivity, innovation. Competitive for hiring & retaining employees. Strong retails sales, transport choice.

51 Walkability. Why we care & why you should too! Builder Magazine, Mar Consumer desire Flexibility in design Lower development costs...

52 What s happening? 1 st & 2 nd generation malls & big boxes are struggling. Employers seek vibrant, livable communities, where employee health, satisfaction, & retention are high!

53 So how to get there? Opening Eyes with a Walk A moist walkabout in New Bedford, MA

Can be critical inspiration for a community, leading to a

54 Three benefits of walkabouts: Powerful educational tool; people actually experience what works & what doesn t. Can be critical inspiration for a community, leading to a healthy vision & action. Excellent for public input & practical planning.

How, when to host walk audits? Public comment; design charrettes. Road, trail, park projects; private development; hearings. Better events. E.g. Walk to School/Work week; open streets; better blocks.

55 How, when to host walk audits? Public comment; design charrettes. Road, trail, park projects; private development; hearings. Better events. E.g. Walk to School/Work week; open streets; better blocks. Boone Hosted walks: School, church, senior center, neighborhood association, business district.

recreation, schools, historical preservation. Elected officials and staff.

56 Any & all concerned citizens (elderly, parents, children). Professionals: Public works, police, fire, health, planners, engineers, conservation, parks & recreation, schools, historical preservation. Elected officials and staff. Advocates: Environment, trails, safety, social justice. Businesses; chamber of commerce, economic development. Developers: Builders, land owners, realtors, lenders. Who to include? Everyone!

57 Typical Active Community Workshop elements: Vision/Intros. Your wish for 10 years from now. Learn. Language, tools, possibilities. Walk. Experience what s working & what needs help. Work. Develop programs, projects, & policies. Plan. Concrete next steps.

58 Include youth! Nogales AZ They re not constrained by what can t be done! Active community environment survey:

59 During a Walk Audit: Plan teachable moments. Scout for representative challenges & opportunities. Experience both good & bad. Get all to offer ideas. Use 0-10 scoring system to start discussion.

60 Human curb extension in Carlisle, PA.

61 Finding teachable moments. Neighbor informally maintaining an island at 5:30 am. Discovering pedestrian demand w/ a goat trail.

62 During the group work & discussion: Mix disciplines in the groups. Don t let all engineers or advocates or developers sit together. Insist on ideas under all of Ps. It assures that everyone has a role in implementation. Make sure everyone contributes. Ideally have big maps & pens for all.

63 Require ideas from all three P s! Programs: Build awareness, plans, support, skills. Projects: Improve the infrastructure for physical activity. Policies: Rewrite the rules so it s done right.

64 E.g. Carlisle PA workshop feedback.

65 Force commitments: What will we/you do tomorrow? Be a champion. Talk to others, organize, lead. Collect data. Map routes, measure traffic, speeds, mode shares; research $. Have event. Open street, Walk to School/Work. Fix stuff. Paint crosswalks, replace lights, cut brush. Try new stuff. Signs, bollards, planters, paint.

Making Orange County Streets Complete & Healthy

Making Orange County Streets Complete & Healthy Irvine, CA Oct. 2015 Many modes, one corridor. www.markfenton.com Five core points: We should be physically active. But mostly we re not. Simply telling