Complete streets

One of the urban policies I've been recently intrigued by, and one that has already, to some extent, begun to be implemented in Athens-Clarke County, is that of Complete Streets. It's a pretty simple concept - making all roads accessible and safe for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders. The nice twist to it is that it stresses customizing each street to the amount of traffic flow (whatever kind) on it, and also includes an element of beautification to it.

In particular, some of the examples suggest some really interesting ways to improve pedestrian safety.

If you're curious about how it looks in action, I'd recommend reading over some of the things Charlotte, N.C. has done. They've been able to preserve, where appropriate and possible, four-lane highways but also accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and mass transportation users.