The concept of complete streets recognises that streets are not just for vehicles but should be designed to provide a safe, balanced, and sustainable transportation system for all users.
Complete streets can promote health, safety, and accessibility while also supporting economic growth. Improved connectivity between different destinations, such as schools, businesses, and public transit, enhances the quality of life. Particularly for those who may have limited access to private vehicles.
By providing safe and convenient transportation options for everyone, complete streets can reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, encourage physical activity, attract new businesses, and create jobs by making communities more enticing and accessible.
The design of complete streets can vary depending on the context and needs of the community, but often includes features such as bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, public transit accommodations, traffic calming measures, and other infrastructure.
Some counterarguments can be made against the implementation of complete streets. For example, increased building costs, which may not justify the benefits. Roadside parking spaces may be reduced in densely populated urban areas. Traffic congestion and travel times may also increase in areas with dense populations. While complete streets are designed to improve safety, some argue that the implementation of bike lanes and other infrastructure can create new safety concerns, such as conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians.
It’s important to note that the design of complete streets may require trade-offs and compromises between different goals and objectives, such as safety, accessibility, and traffic flow.
Careful planning, effective public engagement, and ongoing monitoring can help identify and address these trade-offs.
Synonym(s):
- Multi-modal streets
- Balanced streets
- Integrated streets
