Complete Streets Policy and October News

Dear Friends,

Great things are happening this year in Kentucky, and much of it centers on the Complete Streets policy adopted in 2022 by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

This newsletter is dedicated to:

• The Complete Streets concept
• What Complete Streets means for Kentucky
• How this new policy is rolling out across the state
• How you can learn more and get involved
• Which communities are already engaged in Complete Streets

Also in the newsletter, you will find your invitation to the annual meeting of the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission, November 2 and 3 in Lexington.

And now that the Kentucky Cycling Challenge has wrapped up, we encourage you to keep exploring Kentucky this fall – whether on two feet or on two wheels. This newsletter offers many ideas throughout Kentucky and across the country to get out and get active – walking, hiking, running and cycling. Check it out!

And as always, as you share the road – be safe. We are taking this opportunity to provide reminders of laws, safe practices and ways to build your skills and confidence, regardless of your mode of transportation.

We look forward to seeing you out there walking and cycling!

Complete Streets Arrive in Kentucky

In 2022, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet implemented a new policy that aims to approach roadway development holistically, considering the needs of all users.

Kentucky is rethinking how we get around. Historically, streets and highways were designed around motor vehicles and did not always consider alternative modes of transportation.

Complete Streets is an approach and a process – to planning streets that enables safe access for all of us who need to use them – including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and people of all ages and abilities.

Complete Streets are for every community, from rural communities to small towns to our densest urban cores. They provide safe transportation choices within the context of the surrounding area.

Beyond transportation, the policy also provides opportunities and gathering spaces for art, commerce and community events, enhancing our safety, health, and quality of life throughout Kentucky.

The Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways Policy and Manual

Every community in Kentucky is impacted by and can benefit from this new policy. To help develop safe, accessible roads and trails, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) now has a:

• Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways policy
• A comprehensive Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways Manual

Bike Ped Staff Now in All Twelve KYTC Highway Districts

With the arrival of Complete Streets in Kentucky, there is now assistance to help navigate the policy and implement Complete Streets. In all of the 12 KYTC Highways Transportation Districts, a Bike Walk Coordinator is now available to address the bike-walk concerns relative to Kentucky highways in your community.

Complete Streets Training Workshops. KYTC has been holding training workshops throughout Kentucky this year and will continue offering new workshops through 2023. Just as every community is unique, the application of Complete Streets is unique. The workshops dive into the new policy and manual to help communities begin thinking about how to best build more inclusive transportation networks for the needs of their region.

These workshops are geared to anyone interested in transportation in Kentucky. The attendees are usually planners and designers, but it is structured so that the lay person, elected officials and even community organizers could benefit from learning about Complete Streets. The next two workshops will be in Lexington on Oct 26 and 27.

The Complete Streets Tool Kit

The Complete Streets Tool Kit will help people better advocate for safe cycling and walking in their community. The tool kit, produced by Bike Walk Kentucky, is still in the works and is scheduled for release in the fall of 2023.

How Do I Know Which Communities Are Already Implementing Complete Streets?

To access the list of communities which have already adopted local Complete Streets ordinances and policies, visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Complete Street Program or scroll up to access the list of links to the policies.

Kentucky Complete Streets Manual Wins National Award

Kentucky is again proving itself as a national model for developing safer and more inclusive infrastructure. Kentucky’s new “Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways Manual” has earned a National Recognition Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition—the “Academy Awards of the engineering industry.”

Explore Kentucky This Fall – on Two Feet or Two Wheels

As the fall season grows near and leaves transform the countryside into beautiful, rustic colors, it’s time to explore new areas of Kentucky. Bike Walk Kentucky has assembled an array of resources to encourage you get out, get active and explore.

If you want to hike, bike or run into the season, check this Bike Walk Kentucky web page for links to running and hiking clubs, ideas about where to hike, tips on safe running and walking, and national organizations to take you outside the bounds of our beautiful state.

If you want to pull out the bike and explore on or off the road, this web page will introduce you to local clubs, ideas about where to ride, maintenance and gear tips, government resources and national groups to expand your horizons.

Remember to Share the Road

And whether running, walking, cycling, or driving, remember to share the road!

Sharing the road begins with the understanding that all users of the roads have rights and responsibilities. Many of us face unique safety challenges, such as being smaller, less visible and more vulnerable on the road. It is important that all users of the road are familiar with these safety standards and laws, and are always working to build skills and confidence.

And of course, show your support by purchasing your Share the Road License Plate!

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