Tupelo, Mississippi, on board for Complete Streets and DOT bicycle-pedestrian policy

If you've been reading about our recent bicycle and pedestrian policy, then you know this policy is not part of Ray LaHood's agenda, but part of America's agenda.

And no city demonstrates this as clearly as Tupelo, Mississippi.

On April 6, Tupelo's City Council unanimously passed an ordinance requiring that bike lanes and sidewalks be considered on all new city streets. And Mayor Jack Reed, Jr., quickly signed it.

“I’m proud," said Mayor Reed, "of our City Council’s unanimous support of this initiative."

On the very same day, the nearby city of Hernando, MS, passed a similar complete streets policy.

Both mayors have stated that these policies grew directly from what residents wanted.

As Tupelo Senior Planner  Renee Ray explains:

The “complete streets” policy will help ensure that the roads we build and repair are safe and convenient for all of the people who are using them. As we build out and redevelop our older commercial areas into walkable, mixed-use destinations, we will create a transportation network that fits the land use our residents want. Our goal is to make sure that we achieve the goals our residents have asked for.

Also on the same day, Mayor Reed--who seeks to make Tupelo the healthiest city in Mississippi--signed a Proclamation in "Support of US DOT's Pedestrian and Bicycle Policy Initiative."

Tupelo Mayor Jack Reed, Jr. greets Tupeloans participating in the "Mayor's Marathon" challenge to walk 26.2 miles during the month of November 2009

You see, Tupeloans get it. They get that this policy and their complete streets ordinance will lead to a healthier and safer environment, a more active lifestyle, and lower obesity rates. They get that housing and commercial spaces in walkable and bikeable neighborhoods are more valuable. They get that having people out and about--whether biking or walking or riding transit--helps build stronger communities.

And they get that having great schools, parks, jobs, and services within biking and walking distance of thousands of Tupeloans is only useful when local infrastructure makes biking and walking safe.

And if you need any proof that Tupelo gets it, read Paragraph 6 of the Mayor's proclamation:

"WHEREAS, I am pleased to see that the Secretary recognizes the importance of walking and biking, as I do, and as the residents of Tupelo do, and I hope that the Mississippi Department of Transportation and other cities in Mississippi will recognize and support this policy this as well..."

I thank Mayor Reed for his support and for listening to the community of Tupelo. They told him they wanted more walkable neighborhoods and better infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists. And he honored their wish.

Comments

[Jim Richards]

Hooray for Tupelo! I live near another great American city, Roanoke, and Roanoke County VA. The city has a nice network of sidewalks and is bike friendly. The county has virtually no sidewalks, and no marked bike trails. This means that the only way to safely get around is by car--not an ideal situation.

[Joe]

I am looking forward to biking through Tupelo, MS this summer on the Natchez Trace.

[Dave Stauffer]

Ray, you rock! As chairman of a regional business group in the Northern Rockies (but speaking here only for myself), I'm aware of the many benefits - economic, social, and environmental - that the US can gain with the Transportation Department's forward-thinking bicycle and pedestrian policy. In fact, the organization I head has recently launched a cross-boundary regional transportation initiative that integrates ALL forms of non-motorized as well as motorized mobility. Let me know how I can help advance the policy and see its aims made real.
Dave Stauffer
Chair, Yellowstone Business Partnership
www.yellowstonebusiness.org

[Terry Bradford]

What exactly does Tupelo get? With all the problems and issues we have, bike and pedestrian lanes ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST. Does it make Tupelo look nice, probably. But what good does looking nice do when people need jobs. People are moving out of this town due to the poor services and lackluster leadership we have. They are moving out of the City's borders because they are sick of being treated as second class citizen's by the Mayor and co-horts. Where is the technology industry we were promised by our mayor?

Nowhere to be found, but hey, we got bike lanes! That will create jobs, I just know it!

[Andrea]

15 or 20 years ago I used to be an avid bike rider taking my 21 speed Fuji on all or most of my local trips. Today the Northeast is not a bike friendly place to live. It is set up for auto travel only! Look at how many pedestrians get run over by cars. No one in their right mind would even consider trusting their bike on the streets with people texting or on cell phones. Are you nuts? You need to ride on the bike path only. Thats it. And yes near my apartment that means I get to go about 2 miles up and back. It stinks!

[Jesse]

Thank you Secretary LaHood for recognizing the value of Complete Streets.

We need to mandate Complete Streets as a Federal Policy to encourage and enable people of all ages to get around safely without having to rely on automobiles. Requiring sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails on all roads will allow the carless more opportunities to get around, especially young children, the elderly, the disabled, and the low-income. Also, it will encourage more recreational activity helping to combat the obesity epidemic rampant in this country.

Keep up the hard work and please mandate Complete Streets as a condition of eligibility for federal funding.

[Mike Meyer]

How will Tupelo pay the additional costs for including sidewalks & bike lanes on improvements where these amenities were not previously included. If there are no additional funds available, there will be fewer improvements built. Will the City be able to keep up with their needs?

[Michael E. Bailey]

It is great news about Tupalo. It is catching on fast that a sustainable transportation system means putting greater emphasis on transit, biking, and walking, and less on cars. Orange County has a whole system of marked bike lanes, and a system of walking/biking trailsMost county roads have sidewalks here and the roads and bikeways are well lit which is another important consideration. One thing that gets overlooked in talking about walkable communities is the needs that disabled persons have. The wheelchair cuts in the curbs need to be wide enough to be accessible to the wider and heavier electric powered wheelchairs. This was a problem in one of our communities that had a housing complex for disabled persons and a State Developmental Center. Wheelchair cuts in this community were done a number of years ago before electric powered wheelchairs and scooters were in wide spread use and most people had the foldup manual wheelchairs. The cuts were almost too narrow for the electric chairs. Added to this, the cross walk stripes had been allowed to nearly disappear from neglect at several crossings used by disabled persons from the housing complex and the dc and potholes big enough to catch a person's shoe or make getting across the street in a wheelchair tough had developed in the cross walk. People First Orange County sent a letter to the public works department. They went out and did inspections and did measurments of the curb cuts and made the necessary changes and repairs. Also, the buttons on the signal poles to press for the WALK signal to come on should be at a level to be easily reached by persons in wheelchairs. And maybe include a beeper for persons visually impaired. Walkable communities should be accessible to every person, not some people only. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Chad Melius]

"On April 6, Tupelo's City Council unanimously passed an ordinance requiring that bike lanes and sidewalks be considered on all new city streets."

Notice the word "considered". This word makes the ordinance meaningless. The City Council could have just as easily passed an ordinance requiring that repealing all taxes be "considered". That would have been just as meaningful. I'm sure most of us would approve of both ordinances!

[HP Bryce]

It is great that action like this has taken place on the subject of pedestrians and bikes. We just need to get it moved from "Considered" to Implemented.