Complete Streets projects improve safe access to community destinations through multimodal street planning and design. A mom riding a cargo bike with her child should be able to safely ride to the store, just as a person taking the bus should be greeted by a safe crossing and sidewalks while on his way to the same place.
Businesses understand the importance of access. If customers cannot reach a store easily, they might choose not to do their shopping there. For many years, though, easy access was often a given for those arriving by car, but not for those on foot or bike.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) brings us a great video on why quality, mulitmodal streets are an important piece of the puzzle as communities in the Columbus region undertake efforts to strengthen their economies.
With changing demands for housing and community options, the interviewed experts emphasize the need to change long-standing systems of transportation and land use planning and design to create places that the market favors. By building quality public amenities and making streets accessible for all users, developers and businesses may feel more comfortable investing in the community.
Highlighting the successes in several mid-Ohio neighborhoods, the experts point out that investing in quality public spaces and streets, communities are investing in their futures.