This past week was an exciting one in Sault Ste. Marie. The Chippewa County 'Building a Healthier Community Coalition' and the Strategic Alliance for Health Project on behalf of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have spent two years partnering with the City on a Complete Streets resolution. After intensive hard work, presenting in front of the Planning Commission and the City Commission, all parties involved have adopted the Complete Streets resoultion as defined by the National Complete Streets Coalition.

This article, which made front page headlines in the Soo on Friday, discusses the incredible partnership that helped bring this about.  The community is excited about the initiative. Having a walkable and bike friendly city is important to placemaking and quality of life. Sault Ste. Marie is now the first city north of the Mackinaw Bridge to adopt a Complete Streets resolution!

Colby Spencer is an intern and Project Coordinator for 21c3 at MML. She can be reached at cspencer@mml.org.

The League of American Bicyclists thinks Lansing, Marquette and Portage are rolling along towards becoming three of the country's most bicycle-friendly communities. The three cities have been designated as "Bicycle Friendly Communities," and each city received Bronze-level awards from the Spring 2010 Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) program - the League of American Bicyclists' way of  "honoring municipalities that actively support bicycling and provide safe bike accommodations for recreation and transportation," according to Walk and Bike Lansing! and The City of Lansing's press announcement.

In February, I wrote on article for www.letssavemichigan.com - a site supported by the Michigan Municipal League - that reports how Lansing successfully adopted a non-motorized transportation ordinance and drafted a plan, how they are "completing streets," and how grassroots support and action helped spur these initiatives.

Click on the League of American Bicyclists' Map of "Bicycle Friendly Communities" to find examples of walker-friendly, bicycle-friendly communities and businesses across the country. Other communities in Michigan have gotten props from the League of American Bicyclists for being bike-able. Ann Arbor, greater Grand Rapids, and Traverse City received the designation and award in the past. Midland received an Honorable Mention this spring.