A Healthy City needs Healthy Streets

The Healthy Streets checklist for new developments offers a comprehensive framework that’s gaining traction among urban professionals.
This 2024 tool from Healthy Streets evaluates streets against 10 key indicators, providing scores from 0-3 across 20 questions (maximum 60 points). The assessment covers everything from pedestrian path width (minimum 2m at narrowest point) to vehicle speeds, cycling infrastructure, and comfort amenities.

What makes this checklist particularly valuable is its focus on basic human needs in street environments. Key assessment areas include:

* Motor vehicle speeds – ensuring lane widths and visibility keep speeds below 20 mph
Walking surface quality – evaluating slip resistance and absence of trip hazards
* Cycling infrastructure – assessing both surface quality and protection at junctions
* Standing spaces – checking for suitable 3m² areas every 100-400m
* Shade provision – measuring coverage exceeding 25%, 50%, or 75% on walking and cycling areas
* Seating availability – ensuring appropriate intervals of 50-200m
* Active frontages – measuring buildings with windows and doors directly facing the street

The tool addresses climate resilience through shade and shelter requirements, while promoting inclusivity through level-access crossing points and adequate path widths for mobility aids and wheeled luggage.

Developers can use this framework to identify improvement opportunities for existing streets adjacent to their projects and as design guidance for new developments. Planning authorities can apply it to determine which streets require assessment and improvement prioritisation.

The checklist’s structured approach – with detailed “How to assess this” sections and practical improvement suggestions – makes it accessible for various professionals from urban designers to traffic engineers and policy makers.

Worth noting that Healthy Streets offers additional valuable tools and resources through their Tools & Resources section, expanding the toolkit available for creating people-centred street environments at https://lnkd.in/dBKYugrU.

This evidence-based approach could significantly impact public health outcomes, safety, and urban livability when applied systematically across developments.

Source:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/remco-deelstra-0233635_healthy-streets-ugcPost-7360685353583730692-p5pr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAtGGkQBsxwMBmX3lEJO8btihnfBCaHqTz4