Michigan’s Evolving State Context for Non-Motorized Transportation Advocacy

1. Michigan’s Evolving State Context for Non-Motorized Transportation Advocacy MI Dept. of Community Health: Karen Petersmarck League of Michigan Bicyclists: Lucinda Means Trails and Greenways: Nancy Krupiarz Dept. of Transportation: Cynthia Krupp

2. In Michigan, advocacy for non-motorized transportation has a new look. The Lycra and Spandex image has been upgraded to “office casual.”

3. Our Goals for You Today: You will leave here with ideas for: • Getting INSIDE the system to promote biking and walking. • Some public-private approaches that could work in your state.

4. Getting Inside the World of Public Health MISSION: MDCH strives for a healthier Michigan. To that end, the department will: • Take steps to prevent disease, promote wellness and improve quality of life.

5. What’s In It For Us? • It’s our job to make it easier for people to be healthy! • We are expected to work on “active communities.” We didn’t learn how to do it in school!

6. Three Ways Bike and Ped Activists Have Gotten “Inside” Public Health • Active Communities Award • State plans • Health conferences

7. The Active Communities Award In Michigan, we start on the path to becoming an active community by applying for an award. Gov. Jennifer Granholm presenting Active Communities Award

8. The Beauty of an Award Each community • Assesses itself • Earns points for efforts toward walkability/bikability No one has to preach!

9. Promoting Active Communities Award Now: Web-Based, Interactive Application • Instant feedback • Links to resources • Automated report www.mihealthtools.org

10. Previously, Paper and Pencil! You can do this in your state or province!

11. Promoting Active Communities Award How the Award Works Points earned in six categories.

12. Promoting Active Communities Award Six categories of assessment • Policies & planning (most points) • Pedestrian & bicycle safety/ facilities • Community resources • Worksites • Schools • Public transportation

13. Section 1: • Policies and Planning When roads and streets are built or repaired, bike facilities are always included when possible. New residential areas are required to have sidewalks. “Sidewalk furniture” (newspaper vending machines, advertising signs, flags, etc.) is required to be out of the path of walkers or wheelchair users. Examples:

14. Section 1: • Policies and Planning The governing body has adopted an official plan for improving non-motorized transportation, including a timetable and a budget. More Examples: Transportation planning and funding address the following important safety concerns for bicyclists and pedestrians: • Making sewer grates bicycle friendly. • Creating well-marked crosswalks… • Performing regular maintenance…

15. Section 2: • Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Facilities Abandoned railroad beds are being converted to walking/ bicycling trails. Shopping malls and strip malls have safe approaches for pedestrians and cyclists. Examples:

16. Section 3: • Community Resources Walking incentive programs are available to residents. Sports leagues are available for adults and youth. Examples:

17. Showers? Bike racks? Safe area to walk or exercise? Walking club? • Section 4: Worksites Examples: Consider the four employers in the community with the largest work forces.

18. Did elementary schools participate in National Walk Your Child to School Day last fall? How many days per week were children receiving physical education? • Section 5: Schools Examples:

19. Section 6: • Public Transportation The community has a system of public transportation. Park-and-drive lots are available so that bicyclists and auto drivers can conveniently park vehicles while using public transportation. Examples:

20. Promoting Active Communities Award • Five Levels of Awards • Communities have: • Level 1: Made a commitment… • Level 2: Taken significant steps… • Level 3: Achieved significant progress… • Level 4: Documented outstanding achievements… • Level 5: Are models of commitment… • to healthy, active living.

21. The Award Benefits Communities: • Raises awareness • Creates partnerships • Inspires change

22. Promoting Active Communities Award Inspiring Change… • Jackson • Developed short-and long-range plans for safe walking and biking infrastructure improvements. • Detroit—Southwest • Measured walking routes around community parks and created signage to show distances (in English and Spanish)

23. “Getting Inside the World of Public Health” State Plans • Cardiovascular Disease • Injuries • Obesity

24. “Getting Inside the World of Public Health” Conferences • “Designing Active Communities” • Cardiovascular Disease • Injuries • Obesity

25. Getting Inside Public Health: First Steps • Find out who is in charge: Chronic Disease • Heart disease • Obesity • Injury control • Physical activity • Offer to help • Make a friend

26. Pro Bike Pro Walk September 2004 League of Michigan Bicyclists Lansing, Michigan www.LMB.org

27. Most decisions are made by those who… show up!

28. Moving from “Outsider” to “Insider” Tactics • Start small • Prove yourself • Identify their priorities • Pursue win-win projects • “Carry the water” for their project or priority • Say “yes” to work groups

29. LMB Partnerships Since 1997 • MDOT • Metropolitan Planning Organizations • Michigan Dept. of Community Health • Office of Highway Safety Planning (State Police) • Dept. of Management and Budget • Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth • Travel Michigan

30. How We Got Started Michigan Dept. of Transportation Built on existing projects and relationships • Regular meetings with Non-Motorized staffers • LMB Poster Calendar • Biking info in welcome centers at state borders • Biking content for MDOT website and brochures

31. How We Got Started, continued… Metropolitan Planning Organizations • Found champions in two MPOs • Their mandate: improving public input in transportation and land use planning • Viewed us as credible reps of stakeholders • Helped plan regional traffic safety summit

32. Next Steps Michigan Department of Community Health • Attended a public health conference to schmooze. • Served on several multi-agency work groups. • Demonstrated expertise and willingness to help • Invited to help develop Active Community Award • Invited to present at CVD conference • Invited to develop state plan for cardiovascular health • Safety education contracts

33. The Most Challenging Partner Office of Highway Safety Planning (State Police) • Critical agency • Federal Traffic Safety Money (402 funds) • Traffic Safety Planning for state • Toughest nut to crack • Had to rely on state agency partners for entré • Co-present at annual Traffic Safety Summit • Serving with MDCH, MDOT staffers on non-motorized action team

34. Rare Opportunity Dept. of Management and Budget • Cross-town freeway construction • Affected 10,000 state employees • Invited to deliver bike commuting classes for downtown state employees

35. A Neat Dovetail Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth • Awarded small grant for bike commuter manual for state employees • Ties in with “Cool Cities”

36. Tourism Travel Michigan • Invited to create biking section for state tourism website

37. Moving from “Outsider” to “Insider” Tactics Review: • Start small • Prove yourself • Identify their priorities • Pursue win-win projects • “Carry the water” for their project or priority • Say “yes” to work groups

38. Trails: Integral Projects for State Partnership MichiganField Office PRO WALK PRO BIKE September 2004

39. In Michigan, Trails have played a part in: Cool Cities Initiative Safe Routes to School Transportation Summit TRAILS Land Use Transportation Health Healthy Communities Network MI Steps Up Michigan Cardiovascular Health Task Force Designing Healthy Livable Communities Conference MI Land Use Leadership Council

40. Land Use Planners Transportation Planners Parks and Rec Engineers Landscape Architects Downtown Development Authorities Outdoors activists Environmental groups Elected Officials Chambers of Commerce Health and Fitness groups Trail projects by nature convene many stakeholder groups All fit into one state department or another!

41. Fulfilling a Unique Role

42. Trails and Greenways Legislative Day – May, 2004 • Planning Committee of Diverse Interests: Health, Transportation, Natural Resources,Bicycling, Environmental Advocacy • Produced 3 key messages to be incorporated in all materials • Selected legislative focus from these messages.

43. 3 Key Messages Connected Communities are Healthy Communities – Trails Work!! • Transportation • Health • Conservation • Recreation

44. 3 Key Messages Everyone Wins Economically with Trails and Greenways • Economic Growth – Community Revitalization and business investment • Save Health Care Costs • Retain Work Force through Quality of Life enhancements

45. 3 Key Messages Trails and Greenways bring people and local governments together! • Serve as Outdoor Meeting Places • Foster Community development and pride • Form Local Partnerships

46. Constituent visits carried the messages as it related to their trail HIGHLIGHTS! Advocated legislation for trails but also non-motorized in general Formed a trails caucus in the Legislature Opened the door for future discussion on all non-motorized topics and their relation to health, transportation, land use, and the economy

47. Michigan’s Cool Cities Initiative “Michigan’s economic future lies in creating vibrant communities that are magnets for people, jobs and opportunity.” --Governor Granholm

48. Respondents Described “Cool City” • Bikeable/walkable community • Revitalized, energized downtown • Sense of place • Creative opportunities, diverse housing, wired for technology • Historic preservation meets new world

49. Trails as “Cool Cities” Projects • > $100,000 Catalyst Grants, toolbox of applicable resources, and lots of technical assistance • Some Cool Cities grants awarded to biking/walking facility developments • “One-stop shopping” format of Cool Cities program opened doors to $$

50. Example: Eastern Market Redevelopment