Making Hawaii's roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists
By Sue Sakai
The aging of Hawai'i's Baby Boomers poses significant challenges for the planning and design of our roads and transit systems. Over the next 20 years the number of residents age 65 and older is projected to swell to about 327,000. Older adults will comprise more than 22 percent of the state's population by that time.
Given Hawai'i's current ranking as the most dangerous state to be a pedestrian or cyclist over the age 65, we have our work cut out for us. It will take a culture shift in both state and county transportation departments — and our community as a whole — to make Hawai'i's roads safer and more convenient for people of all ages and abilities.
Today our roads are designed to accommodate as many cars as possible, at the highest speeds and in the shortest amount of time. Many of our communities lack sidewalks and bike lanes, and too many crosswalks require a multi-lane sprint against oncoming traffic. As our population ages, demand for a greater variety of mobility choices such as walking, cycling, and transit, is likely to grow. The challenge for planners is to design roads that are safer for mixed use by cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
The passage of a "Complete Streets" law in the 2009 Legislature offers a framework and an opportunity we need to take advantage of. Act 54 requires state and county transportation departments to accommodate access and mobility for all users of public highways, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and persons of all abilities. This law could pave the way for better transit services, safer walking facilities, and better mobility options for our kupuna in the years ahead. Significantly, Complete Streets' policies benefit kupuna, keiki and all ages in between.
Transportation is one of the keys to making sure that people are able to live independently and in their homes and communities as they get older. Yet, a recent study by AARP's Public Policy Institute warns that two-thirds of U.S. transportation planners and engineers have yet to begin addressing the needs of older people in their planning.
The report, "Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America," recommends that federal, state, and local highway and street design guidelines serve older people by:
Because of the time required to make such improvements, Hawai'i should plan now for the coming age wave. Federal, state and local transportation planners and traffic engineers should focus on adjusting our roads to become safer and more user-friendly for everyone.
To help kick-start a state-wide conversation on transportation planning for an aging Hawai'i, the principal author of the AARP study, Jana Lynott, will visit Hawai'i in July to meet with key stakeholders and engage the public and policymakers on Complete Streets. This will help lay the groundwork for successful implementation of Act 54, and prepare the public for involvement in the Pedestrian Master Planning Process and Transit Oriented Development in connection with O'ahu's rail system.
Complete Streets is an approach to road design that can help get us where we want to go. It stresses safety for all users — drivers, pedestrians, transit users, and cyclists — and encourages efficiency the development of a user-friendly environment. With improved street networks, we can all live more safely and comfortably, and older adults can age successfully where they want to be — in their homes and communities.
The time has come to prepare our streets for an aging Hawai'i. The unprecedented growth in the number of older residents demands that we act now. Though we're currently behind the planning curve, this is a great opportunity for Hawai'i to become a leader in implementing Complete Streets policies.
