TALKING POINTS Livable Streets promotes improved health and well-being Among children:  Nationally and in Missouri childhood obesity is on the increase with 14% of Missouri high school students being considered obese.  Obesity increases risk of related chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.  Students who walk to school get exercise while commuting. Less active children are more likely to be overweight.  The presence of sidewalks is positively associated with physical activity. Among adults:  Rates of obesity and overweight are also increasing. In 1995 18.9% of Missourians reported being obese. In 2009 that number was 30%.  Walking is a basic form of transportation and can be an important source of daily physical activity. However, walking can be difficult for residents when communities lack sidewalks, footpaths, walking trails, and safe pedestrian street crossings.  Moderate, daily physical activity, such as bicycling or walking, has long been recognized as an essential ingredient of a healthy lifestyle. Infrastructure for Livable Streets supports physical activity.  Residents who commute by walking report being happier than their fellow citizens who commuted by a more inactive modes, such as a car or bus.  An obese population undermines our national security. Military recruits are increasingly overweight and unfit to serve, leaving the United States with a dwindling pool of eligible candidates to protect our country. Obesity is now the leading cause for medical disqualification for youth applying to the military. Livable Streets support economic vitality  People want to live in bikable and walkable communities. Properties located adjacent to trails sell quicker and for more money.  Large businesses often look at the health of a community when deciding where to locate because of insurance costs.  Businesses favor healthier employees as healthier employees lose less workdays to sickness. Livable Streets policy adoption is becoming common practice.  Desoto, Ferguson, Lee’s Summit, Festus, Crystal City, Herculaneum, St. Louis, Independence and Columbia, Missouri have all passed Complete Streets policies. More than 200 local public agencies across the United States have now passed these policies. Livable Streets create a safer public realm.  Security Against Crime. Walkers and bicyclists mean more ‘eyes on the street’. More residents using active transportation means there are more people in the public realm. Increased active transportation creates a safer setting for children as they travel. Livable Streets build independence from polluting and non-renewable resources.  Residents traveling by foot or bike are less impacted by sometimes rapidly fluctuating fuel prices.  Congestion and air pollution are increasing in America as personal vehicle miles traveled increases. Air pollution can be reduced when more residents make more trips by foot, bike and transit. Livable Streets promotes travel with a small carbon footprint.  Families that travel by foot and bike save money. AAA reports that it costs $4,381 a year to own a small sedan. Often a family can reduce the number of cars that they own by replacing a portion of their auto trips with bicycling or walking trips. This savings can be invested or otherwise spent in other ways. Livable Streets provide transportation opportunity and choice.  Approximately one-third of Missourians cannot drive because of they are too young (under 16), too old (some people over 65), have a disability or live in chronic poverty. Livable Streets connects these residents with economic, social and other opportunities.  Some citizens choose not to drive. Creating Livable Streets provides these residents with support for their non-motorized choice.