Posted by Kerry Dirk
Local
Read about one 85-year-old’s campaign to bring sidewalks to Aurora Avenue. Richard Dyksterhuis, who played a pivotal role in the nearly complete Linden Avenue North project, hopes to bring the same sidewalks and bike lanes to a street that most pedestrians consider unsafe.
The American Heart Association’s National Walking Day will take place Wednesday, April 3. Everyone is encouraged to take a 30-minute walk this day, or join the Downtown Seattle Rally from 11:45-1:15pm.
The leftover funds from the Spokane Street Viaduct project, totaling $11.75 million, will be allocated for sidewalks, road maintenance, traffic signal upgrades, parts of the Burke-Gilman, and the Transit Master Plan.
The Washington State Ridesharing Organization will host its 2013 Joint Spring Workshopfrom April 8-9 in Vancouver, WA. The workshop will also include the Transportation Options Group of Oregon and the Association for Commuter Transportation Cascade Chapter.
National
America’s Infrastructure Report Card only received a D+, up from a D in 2009, and so far there are few concrete changes that will help to raise this grade.
A recent study found that park-and-ride facilities might actually increase car use. The research found four unintended effects of these facilities: people drove to the transit station rather than making the entire commute by transit, people made more trips because the cost of transportation was lower, people parked at the station but didn’t use the transit, and people who had once made parts or all of their commute on bicycles drove to the station instead.
New public awareness photos in New York City show how far a person has to walk to burn off calories in a 20 oz pop. Further, a study that tested the effectiveness of the posters found that those posters that include walking distance to burn off calories and nutritional information were most effective at convincing people to make lower calorie choices.
Walk Score recently posted 10 tips to advocate for biking and walkability. Some suggestions include doing a neighborhood walkability audit, connecting with local advocacy groups, being a walking tour ambassador (Learn more about the Feet First Neighborhood Walking Ambassadors), and promoting walkability with wayfinding signs.
A new map created by the Code for DC Brigade shows that the city’s top-performing schools are not only those in the wealthiest neighborhoods but also in the areas with the most walkability. This finding is especially important given the recent study that found children who bike and walk to school are better able to concentrate on school tasks.
Who says a metro map can’t be fun? Take a moment to view the DC Metro map as a Super Mario Bros. 3 game.
Another fun map asks what the Baltimore metropolitan region, with 140 Subway sandwich shops, would look like if each of those shops were actual transit stops. The designer pointed out that the Subways on the map serve almost everyone, and so too should public transit.
International
Volvo released new technology that consists of a radar sensor in the car’s grill, a camera in the rearview mirror, a software controller, and auto-braking, all meant to save bicyclist and pedestrian lives. The technology, which works best at low speeds, would stop the car before hitting a person the radar has detected.
If you come across any interesting pedestrian news or stories, please send a link to info@feetfirst.org.