1. Jill Chamberlain Senior Community Prevention Consultant June 17, 2013
ACTIVE COMMUNITIES THE WHY, THE HOW, AND THE WHAT
Jill Chamberlain
Senior Community Prevention Consultant
June 17, 2013 1

2. What attracts walkers and bicyclists?
A variety of nearby destinations
A connected network of sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, crossings
Inviting and pleasant for people on foot or bicycle
Safety for all users
What are the features of active communities anyway?
Destinations within walk & bike distance (reasonable walking = 1 mi, biking = 2 mi)
Mixed use: retail, housing, schools, recreation
Network
Sidewalks, trails, shorter blocks, crossings, access to trail/park/greenway/transit
Attractive
Benches, lighting, flowers, other people, buildings near sidewalks
Safe & comfortable – 8-80 Rule
Continuous sidewalks, setbacks, curb extensions/ramps, median islands
Name some places where you can answer Yes to all 4 of these questions – maybe someplace you’ve been…
Generate two more walk/bike trips per person per week
Prevent up to 1.7 pounds of weight gain per year
Have 35% lower risk of obesity
Increase total minutes of physical activity by 40%
Increase life expectancy by four years

3. OUR APPROACH
GOAL: CHANGE THE CULTURAL NORM
We aspire to durable change that will outlast our attention to the issues
Success in changing policies and systems offer higher yields over time (PS&E)
We still support and pursue more traditional programming and events—but in support of policy goals 3

4. Make the healthy choice
the easy choice
If only we had an example of how to change a social norm…Any thoughts about something that was once so prevelent but is seen differently today?
Seat Belts
Smoking

5. WHO WE ARE
The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota delivers on Blue Cross’ long-term commitment to improve the health of all Minnesotans by tackling four leading causes of heart disease and cancer: tobacco use, obesity, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating.
Funded through proceeds from Blue Cross’ historic lawsuit against the tobacco industry, we collaborate with organizations statewide to help build vibrant communities where healthy choices are easier and more accessible.
Largest Health Plan in Minnesota
2.8 million members, 3,000 employees
Not-for-profit company 5 5

6. Active Living Douglas County
“You Are Where You Live”

7. Planning: Active Living Douglas County
Douglas County Active Living: As part of a community assessement process the Douglas County partnership identified the walkablility and bikablility of downtown Alexandria as one of their barriers. Broadway Avenue (also know as highway 27 and 29) was 5 lanes of traffic. The neighboring trail had limited connects so the 15,000 trail users could not easily find their way to the downtown businesses. Long term the partnership wanted to move towards a city and county complete streets policy.
As a method to spark the policy discussion of complete streets they thought it would be best to do a community visioning process 7

8. Residents and business owners/downtown business association were approached by the partnership. They reviewed concepts and explored their respective interests. Theseare the images they wanted:
Narrower travel lanes, separated trail/cycle track, increased sidewalk space.
Their best outcome was that the city would see this plan and then understand that a local complete street policy would help them realize this vision on other streets…But instead…
MNDOT was looking for a Complete Street Demonstration project, and this road had been scheduled for a mill and overlay. NOTE: Road construction projects get scheduled 3-5 years out. If the city was game, MnDOT proposed a total reconstruction that would build this image. The city had to agree to altering the timeline to summer 2014 and contribute $1 million dollars to the project
Tim’s role – he shifted the schedule so previously planned 2014 projects were moved up and this could go in 2014…with no increased costs. The city would only spend what it was currently planning to spend
Partnership needed to secure the downtown business association’s approval. 2 business owners were very concerned about loss of parking (which wasn’t going to happen) and assessments (which also wasn’t going to happen). Partnership went business to business and presented at 3 association meetings. The key selling point…sewer reconstrction would eliminate a leaky system that was causing annual assessments to businesses…plus project did not have an assesssment.
May 2011 Business Assoc approved; one week later city council approved
Summer 2014 it will be completed.
Invest in the plan even! Money comes to plans!!! Ready to pounce on an unexpected opportunity 8

10. A View From the Street

11. Community Organizations
Physical activity
• Citizens engaged
• Movements
started
• Policies changed
• Barriers removed
Walking, biking and other active transportation becomes the norm vs. the exception
Healthier communities
across
Minnesota
Events allow people to see their streets from a new perspective
Community Organizations 11

12. Open Streets 2013 Albert Lea, June 1 Grand Rapids, June 8
Minneapolis - Lyndale Ave, June 23
Buffalo, July 13
Fargo-Moorhead July 14 and August 25
Dilworth, July 23
Minneapolis, Central Ave, July 28
Minneapolis, Minnehaha Ave, August 11
Eagan, September 15
Richfield, September 15
St Paul, September 15
Luverne, September 21
Minneapolis – Lowry, September 21
Brooklyn Park, September 21

13. THIS REQUIRES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH
GOAL: CHANGE THE CULTURAL NORM
We aspire to durable change that will outlast our attention to the issues
Success in changing policies and systems offer higher yields over time (PS&E)
We still support and pursue more traditional programming and events—but in support of policy goals 13

14. THANK YOU! Jill Chamberlain Senior Community Prevention Consultant