Data Drives Complete Streets
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Data Drives Complete Streets
Creating Healthy Schools and Communities has been working to develop complete streets throughout our communities. What are complete streets? They are roads specifically designed to ensure the safety of all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Establishing safe places for people to walk, jog, and bike is essential to creating healthy communities.
Implementing complete streets requires time and resources. The process involves partnerships with politicians, governmental departments, and communities at large. The investment in these projects can be substantial but necessary. To support the need for complete streets across Western New York, GoBike Buffalo created a "Crash Map" that tracks all incidents involving vehicles coming into contact with pedestrians and bicyclists. This map highlights the most dangerous intersections and areas in the region that pose the greatest risk to pedestrians and bicyclists.
This map is instrumental in emphasizing the need for complete streets. The data collected by the map can demonstrate to all stakeholders the impact of not having the necessary infrastructure in place to keep everyone using roadways and intersections safe.
Facts and Figures:
| 878 | Crashes involving vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists |
| 515 | Crashes involving vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists |
| 42 | Crashes involving vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists |
| 69% | Crashes involving vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists |
This data from the GoBike Dashboard represents Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties from January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Complete Streets Underway
- Cattaraugus County/Southern Tier Bike Trail. This project will connect fifteen Southern Tier communities when complete. This year it took a big step towards breaking ground.
- Cattaraugus and Portville. These two communities have completed their design concepts for complete streets. Creating Healthy Schools and Communities held workshops to support this work.
- Maryvale. A walking audit was completed around the community to gauge how walk-able the streets are. This is an important initial step in understanding the need for complete streets.
- Trails Feasibility Study. The Cheektowaga Trail Feasibility Study analyzes three trail sections in Cheektowaga, Lancaster, and parts of Buffalo, Depew, and Lancaster. These trail segments, identified in the 2020 Regional Bike Buffalo Niagara Master Plan, include the Scajaquada Creek Extension to Cheektowaga, Clarence Pathway Buffalo Extension, and Lancaster Heritage Trail West Extension. If complete it would amount to 20 miles of biking and walking trails added to these communities.