Petition Text

Dear Mayor LaToya Cantrell - 

I believe deeply that biking and walking benefits our community. A strong Complete Streets policy at the heart of how we rebuild our roadways will improve health equity, the local economy, our neighborhoods’ quality of life, the resilience of our local environment, and the safety of all our citizens.

Increasing the ease of biking, walking, with improved transit services leads to less air pollutants, reducing a hazard for those with asthma and other lung diseases. Providing an array of affordable transportation options in low-income neighborhoods reduces health disparities and costs for families. Commuting by bike leads to workers taking fewer sick days and local businesses often see improved sales with the introduction of bike lanes and traffic calming measures.

When bikers, walkers, safety for children, the elderly, and disabled are accounted for in street designs, more people gain the ability to get out and move freely throughout their community. Biking and walking infrastructure has been shown to increase economic vitality, attract more young residents, and is vital to increasing access and equity. Streets built to be shared are essential to extending equity to every New Orleans citizen. With so many residents without reliable access to a motor vehicle, improved mobility options means more of us will be able to access jobs, parks, schools, and healthy food.

Our streets are also the public spaces we rely on most in times of crisis, such as the ever-present threat of flooding. Ensuring residents can safely travel during and after instances of moderate to severe rainfall is of critical importance. Permeable paving, bioswales in our neutral grounds, and similar practices will reduce flooding and damage to property. Trees and native plants create shade to cool our streets, making them more comfortable for biking, walking, while reducing heat-related stress and illness.

With the surge in infrastructure investment underway in New Orleans, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve  residents' safety and ease of traveling their city. In doing so we will bolster our economy, our health, our environment, and our quality-of-life. Please act with urgency to strengthen the Complete Streets policy of the City of New Orleans, creating communities where streets are built to be shared by all.

Thank you!