WATN 8/30/13

Walk Around the News

Author:

Posted by Kerry Dirk

 

Local

SDOT is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on elements of the proposed Waterfront Seattle project including Alaskan Way, the pedestrian promenade, and the overlook walk. The scoping part has started, which is designed to seek input from the public and others who may be affected by the porposed plans. A free public scoping meeting will be held September 9, 2013, from 4:30 6:30 p.m. at Seattle City Hall.

 

King County and the City of Seattle are trying to determine how to regulate ride-share services, which don’t currently face the same steep regulations as taxi companies.

 

A Seattle pedestrian was severely injured after a crash with a bicyclist, which took place in a marked crosswalk at the corner of East Madison Street and McGilvra Boulevard East.

 

National

Having trouble reaching a rail handle? One designer has created a portable rail handle especially for shorter people who cannot reach and/or hold the handle comfortably.

 

A new smartphone app called Moves is an easy way to keep track of how far you walk simply by turning on the free app and carrying it without you throughout the day. Moves will measure how far you walked, biked, ran, and traveled by transport, without any user input needed.

 

A recent study at the University of Minnesota looked at barriers related to transit-oriented development in the private sector. They interviewed developers, real estate agents, and business leaders to determine how each sector factors transit into future site-location decisions.

 

A competition in New York City to make transit-related apps has already resulted in 50 new apps geared toward subway, bus, and commuter rail riders. One app, for example, helps people to orient themselves after getting off the subway.

 

Portland, Oregon became the first city in the U.S. to allow riders to buy tickets with their smartphones. While other cities like Boston have similar ticketing tools, they are designed for one mode of transportation at a time, while Portland’s app works system-wide.

 

International

More workers are using public transportation in the United Kingdom. 67 percent of commuters drive to work, but this number fell 2 percent in 10 years, while bus and tube travel has increased. Cycling to work has also become increasingly common among commuters.

 

The world’s first levitating, solar-powered transit system will be installed in Tel Aviv. The SkyTran is made of a series of levitating pods 20 feet off of the ground. Passengers will be able to stop a pod to catch a ride with their smartphone using mobile apps.

 

Edinburgh will be the first city in Scotland to change its speed limits to 20mph to boost walking and cycling. The plan, which was piloted successfully in Marchmont, should help to reduce accident statistics and road fatalities.

 

If you come across any interesting pedestrian news or stories, please send a link to info@feetfirst.org.

 

Photo courtesy of greenprophet.com

 

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