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A Daily Walk for a Lifetime of Health

Jackson, MI

about

The Walkable Communities Task Force in Jackson is encouraging people throughout the city to adopt more active lifestyles by walking and biking for shorter daily trips. To accomplish this, the partnership created Project U-Turn, a citywide initiative to encourage and facilitate active transportation. Led by the fitness Council of Jackson and the Michigan fitness Foundation, the Walkable Communities Task Force is a partnership of city leaders from a wide variety of disciplines, including health, education, business, transportation engineering, law enforcement, and architecture.

The partnership's work has included a very successful Safe Routes to School pilot project at Frost Elementary, a major effort to expand the program throughout the school district, and a comprehensive Safe Routes to Work pilot project at Lifeways, a mental health provider, with a similar effort to expand it to a variety of destinations. The partnership also has been involved in a city-sponsored bike lane construction program, a project to create a citywide bike route map, snow shovel audits for neighborhood sidewalks, a citywide Smart Commute event and Walk/Bike to School Day, and web-based, personalized active transportation plans for all interested citizens. The Walkable Communities Task Force has spawned a Student Coalition for Walkable Communities that provides high school students with opportunities to contribute to and lead active living projects. For example, the Student Coalition is involved in an audit and letter writing campaign to secure more bike racks in key locations and a "Cool Bus" project in partnership with the Jackson Transportation Authority to increase transit ridership among youth by redesigning the route, the stops, and even the bus itself.

our story

After Hoyt Skinner signed up for Jackson's Smart Commute Day, the Eaton Aeroquip employee hopped on his bike and has not stopped pedaling. Since he started, Hoyt has logged more than 1,000 miles on his bike, lost 25 pounds, and brought his type 2 diabetes under control. His favorite Jackson rides include the Intercity Trail, Cascades Trail, Francis Street bike lanes, and the currently unimproved Falling Water Trail to Concord. Hoyt also is enjoying the new bike lanes around town that help link paths together. Hoyt's favorite part of his new active lifestyle, however, is noticing every day that his body is getting stronger. He started by biking just three miles, but after just a few months could easily ride 40 miles. Hoyt's advice for getting started? "Be committed and make time. Force yourself to set things aside and make the time." Hoyt certainly is committed. When asked if he was concerned about the winter weather, Hoyt replied that he would ride as long as there was no ice on the trail.

opportunities

Jackson is a working-class, automobile industry city, with long winters and a 20% poverty rate. The town does not have a major university, large local philanthropies, or an established champion for active living. These characteristics make Jackson one of many excellent cities in which to grow the active living movement, and a great place to learn and eventually demonstrate the project's success.

The Michigan fitness Foundation's involvement provides the project with access to a strong, statelevel Safe Routes to School program and experienced leadership. The state also has a supportive governor, complementary programs such as the Cool Cities initiative, and a progressive Department of Transportation.

In the near future, the partnership plans to take its Safe Routes to School program districtwide at the elementary level, launch a campaign to complete the sidewalk network around elementary schools, and secure district funding for a permanent, fulltime Safe Routes to School coordinator. The partnership will also expand its Safe Routes to Work program, expand and promote its trail system, including a downtown Riverwalk, and seek funding for the Cool Bus project.

accomplishments

Completed destination-based bike routes map for the city; planning an advocacy and awareness campaign to support bike lanes along these routes.

Conducted a highly successful, comprehensive Safe Routes to School pilot at Frost Elementary and expanded it to two new schools; installed 12 new zebra crosswalks and two 'No Turn on Red' signs around Frost school; and redesigned the school parking lot to reduce parking, increase access, and improve safety for children who walk or bicycle.

Conducted Foot Energy, a comprehensive Safe Routes to Work program at Lifeways, a mental health provider with 50 employees; installed lockers and bike racks and provided bikes and helmets for the company's biking program.

Provided web-based, personalized active transportation plans for citizens throughout Jackson.

Installed bike lanes on four roads and four key crosswalks in the downtown area, signed bike routes throughout the city, and realigned and signed all of the bike trail's intersections with streets.

Sponsored Jackson's first Smart Commute Day, with 165 participants traveling 550 miles by foot, bike or transit. More than 85% were first-time smart commuters.

Raised more than $80,000 to support active living initiatives, and helped the City of Jackson raise $1.3 million from the state for the Riverwalk plan and land acquisition downtown.

With the Student Coalition for Walkable Communities, designed the Project U-Turn logo, completed a bike rack assessment, conducted a letter-writing campaign to businesses to encourage rack installation, and partnered with the Jackson Transit Authority to assess a potential 'Cool Bus' route and bus renovation for youth.

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