completestreets

Completestreets is a platform and community initiative focused on promoting and documenting street design that safely accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists. The term is used in urban planning discourse to describe environments that align with complete streets principles.

The concept traces its roots to the broader Complete Streets movement, which gained prominence in North America and other regions during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Completestreets, as a brand or project, seeks to aggregate policy guidance, design standards, and case studies into a centralized resource that can be accessed by planners, advocates, and the public.

The platform maintains a directory of streets evaluated against complete streets criteria and hosts design templates and best practices, such as pedestrian refuge medians, protected bike lanes, accessible curb ramps, and transit-supportive elements. It emphasizes multimodal access, safe crossing opportunities, and connectivity between neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and centers of activity.

Data on Completestreets is collected from municipal plans, field audits, and community submissions, then reviewed for consistency and accuracy. The platform often employs open data practices and provides mapping tools, performance indicators, and documentation to help assess street quality, replicate successful designs, and foster accountability.

Reception of completestreets is varied. Proponents argue that it supports evidence-based planning, transparency, and the spread of best practices. Critics point to differences in local context and regulatory frameworks that can complicate universal applicability. Overall, completestreets aims to complement policy initiatives with practical resources and community engagement.