Fewer than half of Hawai'i residents 50 and older say they are "satisfied" with the safety of streets, crosswalks, and bicycle pathways in their communities and 65 percent say they would support a more comprehensive approach to transportation planning, according to a new AARP survey.

The survey, conducted in October, polled 800 seniors to understand the frustrations they face on Hawai'i roadways. A wide majority — 68 percent — said heavy traffic was a "big or small problem." And about 40 percent said a lack of sidewalks and safe crosswalks at intersections was a "big or small" worry.

Bruce Bottorff, spokesman for AARP Hawaii, said the survey illustrates that seniors — a quickly growing segment of the population — are concerned with their safety on Hawai'i streets. And he said the poll shows many seniors support a "complete streets" policy for road repairs and new road construction.

"Complete streets," Bottorff said, "is shorthand for saying creating mobility planning options that take into account all people — people with disabilities, people who are older, people who can't drive or are no longer able to drive."

AARP and other groups that advocate transportation alternatives are trying to institute a "complete streets" policy with Senate Bill 718. The bill, which unanimously passed the House Transportation Committee yesterday, would require the state and counties to "reasonably accommodate access and mobility for all users" of streets.

That might mean installing sidewalks, safer crosswalks or wheelchair ramps.

In testimony yesterday, state DOT Director Brennon Morioka said he supports the intent of the measure. But he added that the bill "may be unnecessary as it is the policy of the DOT ... to plan and design state highways" to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and bus stops. He also said such improvements are already in the works, thanks to a six-year, $4 billion highways state modernization plan announced last month.

But Jackie Boland, executive director of AARP Hawaii, said the complete streets legislation would spur more discussion — and action — on making sure roadways are safer for all sorts of transportation users.

She added she was somewhat surprised the AARP survey did not show more concern among seniors about the safety of crosswalks and sidewalks. That is likely because about 82 percent of those polled said they drove exclusively or primarily to get around. About 24 percent said they walked often or sometimes to do errands.

And 16 percent said they rode the bus.

Respondents were asked to include all the transportation modes they used.

Boland said those who don't walk often to do errands may prefer driving even short distances because they don't feel the sidewalks or crosswalks are safe enough. She said safer pedestrian and bike pathways will get more people out of their cars.

"Everybody recognizes Hawai'i streets are not conducive to walking or bicycling," she said, pointing out Hawai'i has one of the highest rates of pedestrian deaths for those 65 and older in the nation. So far this year, two pedestrians have been killed on O'ahu, compared to four at the same time last year.

Over the same period in 2007, 10 pedestrians were killed.