Local
An open house for the Center City Connector Transit Study will take place next Thursday, June 6, from 5:30 7:30 pm at the South Lake Union Discovery Center. If you can’t make the meeting, the materials will also be available online.
Visit the Sound Transit website to view the materials for the Northgate Link Extension project.
The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office is looking for your opinions and suggestions for improving Washington trails. Suggestions will be used as for the development of two important plans, including the Washington State Trails Plan and the Non-highway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Program.
National
National Trails Day, a celebration or America’s trail system, is this Saturday, June 1. Visit the website to find an event in the area.
A recent survey found that 70 percent of tourists in America plan to use public transportation this summer. The most popular cities to visit include New York, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, and San Francisco.
Walk Score is now available as an Android App, you can download the free app today.
A recent analysis of pedestrian fatalities in Connecticut in relation to bus stops found that large numbers of pedestrians were killed within ¼ a mile of a bus stop.
A new webinar, Model Pedestrian Safety Programs, will take place on Thursday, June 6, from 11:00 am 12:30 pm. The webinar will feature programs in California and Washington, DC and will include ideas for developing and implementing a pedestrian master plan.
Three new communities were designated as Walk Friendly Communities, including Bend, Oregon, Louisville, Kentucky, and Indiana, Pennsylvania. Cities can apply to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, and awards are given to communities that have demonstrated a commitment to pedestrian safety.
Transit and biking have increased in Washington, DC, while solo driving has decreased. This change, which is also a national trend, means that now 40.2 percent of workers in DC commute by transit, compared to 32.3 percent in 2000.
Interested in traveling like a local? The American Public Transportation Association has prepared a list of tips for traveling and using public transportation in several major U.S. cities.
A recent study looking at patterns of racial segregation followed 7,000 students from 1988 to 2000 and found that most minorities have limited exposure to integrated neighborhoods and overall limited mobility.
International
A campaign in Australia, Check Before you Step, is targeted toward walkers who text, Facebook, or otherwise use their phones as they cross the road. The campaign comes after an increase in pedestrian fatalities, as well as findings that show one in three pedestrians are distracted by phones when they cross the road.
A lack of transportation funds worldwide has led to slow progress in many countries. This problem was discussed by economists who attended an International Transport Forum last week in Germany.
Wondering how a blind person knows when to cross the street? Many crossings around the world contain a button underneath the pedestrian crossing box. The plastic or metal cone, which is designed for visually impaired or blind people, spins when the pedestrian has the right of way.
If you come across any interesting pedestrian news or stories, please send a link to info@feetfirst.org.
Photo courtesy of BBC.