Introduction
Advocating for Complete Streets requires more than just passion—it demands a strategic approach that combines hard evidence, human stories, and clear solutions. This guide will help you build a persuasive case that resonates with decision-makers and community members alike.
Quantify the Benefits
- Don't just talk about benefits, show them. Use the Benefits of Complete Streets Tool (or similar resources) to estimate the specific positive impacts of Complete Streets in your community. This tool can help you project things like:
- Reduced crash rates and injuries.
- Increased walking and biking rates.
- Economic benefits (e.g., increased property values, business activity).
- Health benefits (e.g., reduced obesity, improved air quality).
- Cost savings associated with the above items.
- Focus on local relevance: Instead of general statistics, use the tool to generate estimates specific to your neighborhood or city. For example: "Implementing Complete Streets on Main Street could lead to a 15% reduction in pedestrian injuries and a 10% increase in foot traffic to local businesses."
- Monetize the benefits whenever possible — "This Complete Streets project could generate $X million in economic activity over Y years". This can be very difficult to achieve as local advocates, so don't worry if you're unable to generate this data.
Highlight the Costs of Inaction
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Highlight the Costs of Inaction
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Highlight the Costs of Inaction
- Gather local crash data: This is crucial. Don't rely on national statistics. Find data on:
- Pedestrian and cyclist crashes, injuries, and fatalities in your city.
- Specific locations with high crash rates (intersections, corridors).
- Demographic data (if available) to show who is most affected.
- Sources for crash data:
- Your local police department or transportation agency.
- Vision Zero data portals if your city participates
- Community-sourced near-miss reporting
- Hospital emergency department data (if accessible)
- State Department of Transportation websites.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) databases (but try to get local data first).
- Local advocacy groups (they may have already compiled data).
- Create heat maps identifying high-risk corridors and intersections when possible. If you have any programmers as part of your volunteer group, one method to achieve this is by using Google Maps
- Present the data clearly: Use additional charts and graphs to visualize the problem. For example: "There were X pedestrian fatalities and Y serious injuries on Elm Street in the past five years. This is unacceptable."
- Connect to dollars and lives. "Each year our city spends $X million on settlements and medical bills, not to mention the immeasurable cost on families who lose loved ones due to dangerous street design." Any data you can collect on emergency resposne costs, medical expenses and lost productivity, insurance claims and legal settlements, or property damage can help your case.
Complete Street Policies are about being pro-active and fixing a street before a fatality or serious injury. Collect any data you can to help illustrate the existing problem, but do not getted stuck at this data collection step. A few good examples of problematic areas can often be sufficient to help the process move forward. {.is-warning}
Craft a Compelling Narrative
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Craft a Compelling Narrative
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Craft a Compelling Narrative
- Data is important, but stories are powerful. Combine the data with personal narratives to make the issue relatable and human.
- Find real stories:
- Talk to people who have been affected by unsafe streets (e.g., people who have been injured, families of crash victims, people who are afraid to walk or bike in their neighborhood).
- Collect testimonials from residents who want safer routes to school, work, or local businesses.
- Highlight the experiences of vulnerable road users (children, seniors, people with disabilities).
- Document the experiences of diverse storytellers:
- Video testimonials (60-90 seconds)
- Written statements
- Photos after crashes.
- Use these stories to illustrate the data: For example: "Sarah, a mother of two, lives near Elm Street. She worries about her children walking to school because of the high number of crashes at the intersection of Elm and Oak. Our data shows that Sarah's fears are justified – this intersection is one of the most dangerous in the city."
- Create a "Day in the Life" narrative showing how street design impacts daily routines of different types of road users (e.g. parents, students, commutters, recreational cyclists)
Analyze Existing Policies
- Don't just advocate for a new policy; show why the current ones aren't working.
- Obtain copies of your city's:
- Transportation master plan.
- Street design guidelines.
- Zoning ordinances (these can impact street design).
- Any existing Complete Streets policies (if they exist).
- Critically evaluate these documents ina policy audit:
- Do they prioritize the safety of all users, or just cars?
- Do they include specific design standards for sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, and transit stops?
- Do they address equity and the needs of underserved communities?
- Are there any loopholes or exceptions that undermine Complete Streets principles?
- Identify the specific weaknesses: For example: "Our current street design manual prioritizes traffic flow over pedestrian safety, resulting in wide lanes and high speeds that make our streets dangerous."
Present a Clear Solution
- Don't just complain; offer a solution. Based on your data, stories, and policy analysis, articulate a clear vision for what Complete Streets would look like in your community.
- Be specific: Instead of saying "we need safer streets," say "we need protected bike lanes on Main Street, curb extensions at the intersection of Elm and Oak, and improved crosswalk signals throughout the neighborhood."
- Use visuals: If possible, create maps, diagrams, or even renderings to show what your proposed improvements would look like.
- Connect your vision to the benefits: Explain how your proposed solutions would address the problems you've identified and achieve the benefits you've quantified.
Create a Concise Briefing
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Create a Concise Briefing
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Create a Concise Briefing
- Summarize your findings in a clear, concise, and compelling one-page briefing document. This is your key advocacy tool and will be the reference point for your advocates as they customize their messaging to specific situations.
- Include:
- A brief overview of Complete Streets.
- Key data points on the benefits and the costs of inaction.
- A compelling personal story or two.
- A summary of the weaknesses of existing policies.
- Your vision for Complete Streets in your community, with specific recommendations.
- A clear call to action (e.g., "We urge the City Council to adopt the proposed Complete Streets policy.").
- Use visuals (maps, charts, photos) to make the briefing engaging and easy to understand.
- Develop clear talking points that connect personal stories to policy solutions
- Prepare concise responses to common objections (parking concerns, construction disruption, etc.)
- Tailor the briefing to your audience: Adjust the language and focus depending on whether you're presenting to elected officials, community groups, or the media.
- For fiscal conservatives: highlight cost savings and economic benefits
- For progressives: emphasize equity and environmental benefits
- For parents: focus on children's safety and independence
- For businesses: demonstrate customer access improvements
- Distribute widely: Share with everyone. Your city council members, reporters, community groups, etc.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you'll create a powerful case for Complete Streets that combines hard data, human stories, and a clear vision for a safer, more accessible future. This will be much more effective than simply asking for "better streets." You're showing the problem, proving the benefits, and offering a concrete solution.