Feet First’s look at pedestrian news for the week of October 12, 2012.
WEEKLY WALK AROUND THE NEWS
Posted by Kerry Dirk
October 12, 2012
Local
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has partnered with the City Arts to provide a helpful map for City Arts Fest, which occurs October 17-20. The map shows walking times, locations of bike racks, and major transit lines.
Bicyclists in the University District are now at risk of getting a ticket if they fail to stop at the stop signs. Close calls between bikers, cars, and pedestrians at this intersection prompted University of Washington police to begin warning bikers who use the intersection incorrectly.
National
Quincy, Massachusetts, which has seen 65 pedestrian accidents between January and September, started a pedestrian safety initiative in April. The initiative, which has worked to repaint crosswalks and adjust traffic conditions, now plans to focus on pedestrian behavior.
Police in North Carolina are now paying particular attention to drivers who fail to yield for pedestrians in crosswalks, especially in pedestrian danger zones. In August, NC launched a safety education and enforcement campaign, Watch for Me NC, in an effort to reduce collisions between cars and pedestrians.
A recent study found that in places where bicycling and walking are promoted, businesses have also benefited. Focusing on East Village in New York City, Transportation Alternatives found that 95 percent of retail dollars spent in the study area were by those people who used public transit or non-motorized transportation.
International
A recent Danish study found that to cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by as much as 50 percent, you need to pick up your walking pace. Exercise intensity rather than duration was found to be most important; fast walking reduced the risk of metabolic syndrome by 50 percent, while an hour long casual walk did not make any difference.