FAQ's

What are Dearborn Healthy Streets?

Dearborn Healthy Streets are slow and shared streets intended to help all residents find safe, healthy ways to get outside, recreate, exercise and access essential services by providing greater access to public right of ways traditionally used for motor vehicle transportation. Dearborn Healthy Streets allow people to bike and roll in a safer, slower street environment freeing up space on the sidewalk for pedestrian travel and social distancing. Vehicular traffic is restricted to local traffic only on Dearborn Healthy Streets , meaning that you can still park on your street and get deliveries, visitors can still drive to local destinations, but using the street as a cut through in your car is discouraged. People driving must drive slowly and always stop for anyone in the roadway. Emergency vehicles are permitted. Slow and shared streets programs emerged as a nationwide trend during the COVID-19 pandemic which emphasizes the need for physical distancing and healthy lifestyles.

Is Dearborn Healthy Streets intended to be a city-wide event?

No, Dearborn Healthy Streets is a program that makes neighborhood specific changes to encourage more and safer daily movement for residents who live on or regularly visit these streets. They are NOT places for people to congregate, crowd, or socialize.

Who is allowed to use Dearborn Healthy Streets?

Biking or rolling is allowed in the street as is local traffic and deliveries for residents who live on a Dearborn Healthy Street. Anyone walking or running should be socially distanced on the sidewalk. City services and emergency vehicles are also permitted on these streets. All modes, including people biking, running, and rolling, should proceed slowly and yield to people walking. Street parking will not be affected by the program.

Why are Dearborn Healthy Streets necessary?

Many residents have expressed concern about speeding traffic that makes it uncomfortable for residents to enjoy their neighborhoods. The Dearborn Healthy Streets program is intended to begin conversations in neighborhoods about the best ways to use public space that has traditionally been given over to automobiles. It is premised on the idea that these spaces can be better shared between all modes and multiple uses, rather than serving the needs of one particular mode of transportation. Dearborn Healthy Streets is intended to build on community conversations that led to the passage of the Dearborn Multimodal Transportation Plan in 2020.

I live on a Dearborn Healthy Street. Am I still allowed to drive and park on my street?

Yes. Local traffic is still allowed as are delivery vehicles and access to residential parking. Dearborn Healthy Streets will be signed “Local Traffic Only” to discourage through traffic, or motorists whose destination is not on that particular block. If your typical vehicular route uses a Dearborn Healthy Street, please plan to take an alternate route. If you live on a Dearborn Healthy Street or need to use it to reach your destination, please drive slowly and yield for your neighbors traveling by foot or on wheels.

Will emergency services, garbage pick-up, and deliveries still be able to use the street?

Yes. All city services will continue to operate as normal but are expected to drive slowly and yield to people on the street.

How were these streets selected?

Dearborn Healthy Streets were selected by Dearborn residents and Healthy Dearborn Coalition members from each area of the City based on a variety of factors including: community input and coordination with local officials, geographical distribution throughout the city, residential streets that had existing pedestrian and bicycle activity and access to parks and schools, and streets with no active bus routes. These streets were selected as demonstration streets only, and decisions about whether to extend the pilot beyond the original 30 days will be based on resident feedback. Additional streets may be added to the program upon resident request.

What are the costs?

All Healthy Dearborn coalition members volunteer their time to this and all projects. Program materials (barrels, barricades, signage) used for this project were either donated or paid for using donations from our partners. No City tax dollars were allocated to this project.

How can I get a Dearborn Healthy Street in my neighborhood?

To provide feedback on the Dearborn Healthy Streets program and to let us know where you think other Dearborn Healthy Streets should be located, visit Dearborn Healthy Streets - Contact . There, you can provide more information. We will continue to evaluate requests with community groups to gauge feasibility and support.

Are these changes permanent?

No.

The program is meant to facilitate safe movement and social distancing. Dearborn Healthy Streets program runs Spring through Fall. During this time we welcome and will gather community feedback to evaluate what, if any permanent changes, neighborhoods would like to see on their streets in the future and make recommendations to City officials.

What should I do if I see a problem on a Dearborn Healthy Streets?

If you observe a problem with equipment on a Dearborn Healthy Street (i.e. a barrel or sign broken, missing, or misplaced), contact us and provide the intersection or address. For an emergency, always call 911. If you have other thoughts or feedback about Shared Streets, you can contact

Dearborn Healthy Streets - Contact