Press Release: High gas prices show need for Complete Streets policies

HIGH GAS PRICES SHOW NEED FOR COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES

Bike/ped leaders call for top leaders of Missouri agencies to work together on Complete Streets, livability, and obesity issues

Jefferson City, 04/12/2011 -- Advocates for bicycling, walking, running, and trails were in Jefferson City yesterday celebrating a major new bike/ped connection across the Missouri River and advocating for Complete Streets.

"$90 to fill up the gas tank on my van--that's a wake-up call," said Brent Hugh, Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation.

"There is no better reason to support Complete Streets--because right now people need options. We need to be able to bike there or walk there, and we need to be able to do it safely."

Complete Streets policies mean that cities and government agencies that build and maintain roads consider the needs of people who walk, bicycle, and use transit, the young, the old, and the disabled, in every road project.

"Every time the price of gas spikes, the number of people bicycling and walking spikes as well," said Hugh. "We need to make sure our communities are safe for walking and biking."

Steve Tilley, Speaker of the House in the Missouri General Assembly, scheduled a vote this week on a resolution in support of Complete Streets, HCR 23.

HCR 23, sponsored by Representative Sally Faith of St. Charles, calls for cities, planning organizations, MoDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration to adopt Complete Streets policies and consider the needs of people who walk, bicycle, and use transit in all transportation projects.

Over one million Missourians live in cities with Complete Streets policies, and over three million live in metropolitan planning organizations that have Complete Streets policies.

"We're moving in the right direction in Missouri," said Hugh. "But high gas prices show that we need to dramatically accelerate the change we're making."

Leaders of bicycle and pedestrian organizations at Bicycle and Pedestrian Day at the Capitol Monday called for leaders of Missouri health, transportation, education, natural resources, and housing agencies to form a high level task force to work together in support of Complete Streets, livable communities, and healthy living initiatives.

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More about Complete Streets in Missouri:

  http://MoBikeFed.org/CompleteStreets

About the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation:

The Missouri Bicycle Federation is a coalition of bicycling, walking, running, and trails organizations and businesses representing over 30,000 Missourians and speaking for the 2 million Missourians who bicycle regularly and the 5.8 million who walk.

Find out more about MoBikeFed:

  http://mobikefed.org