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2013 Walking Summit
2013
Walking Summit
Pursuing Complete
Streets in Indiana
Zia Brucaya, Coordinator, Indiana Complete Streets Coalition
2013 Walking Summit
Health by Design
GOALS
• Increase walking, biking
and public transit options.
• Increase neighborhood, city
and regional connectivity.
• Encourage land use
decision-making that
promotes public health.
• Reduce dependency on
automobiles.
2013 Walking Summit
Pedestrian
Workgroup
Policy and
Advocacy
Committee
Complete Streets Policies
in Indiana
Complete Streets policies now
cover 36% of Hoosiers.
1. Bloomington MPO, 2009
2. Madison County MPO, 2010
3. Northwest Indiana MPO, 2010
4. City of Columbus, 2010
5. City of Richmond, 2011
6. City of Frankfort, 2012
7. Evansville MPO, 2012
8. Tippecanoe County MPO, 2012
9. City of Indianapolis, 2012
10. City of Westfield, 2012
2013 Walking Summit
2013 Walking Summit
Why Pursue a Policy?
• Impact a whole population
• Shift public opinion
• Change social norms
• Mobilize resources and
improve efficiency
• Build equity across
communities
• Outlast political change
2013 Walking Summit
2013
Walking Summit
Indy’s Complete Streets
Advocacy Campaign
2013 Walking Summit
Advocacy Timeline
• June 2009: hosted a
National Complete Streets
Coalition workshop in
Indianapolis.
• Jan 2010 – Sept 2011:
AARP, Health by Design and
partners conducted
outreach and education.
• Walkability assessments,
presentations, meetings,
conversations, etc.
2013 Walking Summit
Walkability Assessments
2013 Walking Summit
2013 Walking Summit
Advocacy Timeline
•Early 2011: Complete Streets
workgroup formalized.
•January 2012: workgroup
members drafted ordinance
language.
•Early 2012: partners met with
City leadership and Council
sponsors.
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The Advocacy Campaign
•April – Aug 2012: Indiana
Complete Streets Coalition
partners launch their campaign.
•Sign-on letter (59 organizations)
•Petition
•Media campaign
•Social media
•Neighborhood meetings
•Meetings with decision-makers
•Letters to the Editor
AARP speaking with the press
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Success!
•August 2012:
unanimously adopted by
the City-County Council
•Signed into law by Mayor
Ballard on August 23, 2012.
•April 2013: named top
policy in the country.
2013 Walking Summit
“Whereas…”
“Indianapolis strives to be a “livable community,” and a wellbalanced and connected transportation system that allows for
safe walking, biking and efficient, robust public transit is a vital
component of a “livable community”…”
“In Marion County, 40% of our children are overweight or atrisk for becoming overweight and nearly two thirds of adults
are overweight or obese, and incomplete streets mean many
people lack opportunities to be active as part of daily life…”
“…Indianapolis was recently awarded a bronze designation as
a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American
Bicyclists…”
2013 Walking Summit
Common Barriers
Complete Streets efforts can be
stalled by misperceptions of:
Safety
• Cost
• Demand and/or need
•
What you can do:
Outreach and education
• Focus on incremental steps
• Make it relevant
• Make it fun
•
2013 Walking Summit
Policy Change Best Practices
• Create an advocacy group
• Learn from other coalitions
• Engage all stakeholders
• Build diverse partnerships
• Connect with other initiatives
• Safe Routes to School
• Healthy Communities
• Aging in Place
Pedbikeimages.org / Mike Cyneki
• Educate and make your case
• Remember that a policy is just the beginning!