Feet First’s look at pedestrian news for the week of May 6, 2011.
Weekly Walk Around the News
Posted by Derrick Van Kirk May 6, 2011
Local
Although SB 5326 the Vulnerable Users Bill passed both the House and Senate, according to David Hiller, Advocacy Director of the Cascade Bicycle Club, the Governor only has until May 12 to sign the bill into law. Hiller sent an email out last week urging people to either call the Governor’s office directly at 360-902-4111 or send an email using this form with the following message: I support SB5326, the Vulnerable User Bill, and I want to encourage Governor Gregoire to sign it.
Feet First is partnering with America Walks to conduct a National Walking Survey that aims to collect information about who walks and why they walk.
National
In an effort to promote livable communities for older residents, AARP has selected two communities in Vermont to receive a $15,000 award to promote a community design project aimed at improving walkability for senior citizens.
The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging received a two year grant to conduct a Walkability’s Impact on Senior Health study to better understand if walkable neighborhoods have a positive effect on the health of people who are 60 and older.
According to a Reed Collage economist, Portland area home prices not only increase when new amenities open within in walking distance of homes, but they also increase when the neighborhoods where they are located have an abundance of parks, trees, lawns, and other greenery.
Concern over traffic mitigation strategies in New York are front and center this week on StreetsBlog NYC.
Along with New York, Florida, and Texas, California is one of the four deadliest states for pedestrians according to this personal injury attorney.
Columbus, Ohio is spending nearly $2 million to change 600 street crossing signs to those giving pedestrians a countdown before traffic signals turn red.
In Daphne, Alabama, the notion of smart streets is catching on in the hopes of connecting parts of the city for people who travel by foot or by bike.
Much to the dismay of the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation, lawmakers in Wisconsin have decided to cut $5 million for bike and pedestrian projects in the 2011-13 State budget.
International
According to this article, Al Ain Pedestrian and Bikeway Master Plan seeks to make walking and bicycling more comfortable for people by finding ways to create more shaded areas along routes.
If you come across any interesting pedestrian news, please send the link to derrick@feetfirst.org.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user blond avenger under the Creative Commons license.