New York Times: A Streetcorner Serenade for the Public Plaza. The New York City Department of Transportation is focusing on projects that can be completed quickly, easily and with relatively little investment in order to turn underutilized spaces into public plazas. Many other cities, including Philly, have had great success creating public spaces like this. As … Continue reading Friday links for 5/31/13
Draft Philadelphia Trail Master Plan released
Philadelphia's City Planning Commission has released a draft of their Trail Master Plan. The plan provides maps and an inventory of the numerous existing and proposed trails in Philadelphia. It also outlines best practices in trail building, defines the different types of trails in Philadelphia, and prioritizes the city's trail projects. The creation of the Trail … Continue reading Draft Philadelphia Trail Master Plan released
Article: Mexico City creates public spaces from vacant areas under freeways
In many American cities (not just in the U.S.), highway infrastructure has changed the urban landscape and created new challenges for planners. Mexico City has developed a unique strategy for dealing with one of these challenges; namely, the empty space under highway overpasses. These areas, which were previously occupied by vagrants and unlicensed parking lots, … Continue reading Article: Mexico City creates public spaces from vacant areas under freeways
Walk Score announces new Android app
Our friends at Walk Score have announced the release of their free app for Android devices! Download the app, which is also available for iPhone, to instantly get the walkability of your location and find amenities such as restaurants and shops near you.
Article: Drivers at fault in ped crashes do not face charges
Over the past century, the interests of the auto industry have usually won out over the interests and safety of pedestrians. Because the latter do not typically have the same kind of lobbying power to influence lawmakers, vehicle-pedestrian crashes are all too often seen as unfortunate accidents. A five-year study of fatal pedestrian crashes found that … Continue reading Article: Drivers at fault in ped crashes do not face charges
Event: Spring Garden Connector St. Meeting
Interested in improving access to the Delaware River waterfront? The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation is holding a public meeting tomorrow at 6:30 pm regarding their next project, the Spring Garden Connector Street. According to DRWC's Master Plan for the Central Delaware, "streets that connect the city and waterfront will be green and pedestrian-friendly."
Video: Life at 3 mph
Jonathon Stalls walked thousands of miles across the country. In this inspiring TED talk, he talks about how important walking is and how our car-oriented culture has caused many people to forget about the benefits of taking life at 3 miles per hour.
Free guided tours during “What’s Out There Weekend” event, May 18-19
The Cultural Landscape Foundation is offering a series of free guided tours (pdf) throughout the day on May 18th and 19th that highlight history, horticulture, nature, and design. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to explore what Philadelphia's publicly-accessible parks, neighborhoods, and other public spaces have to offer! More information: What's Out There Weekend Philadelphia
Article: Young Americans leading the trend toward less driving
Studies show that the current overall trend toward driving less that is occurring in the United States is being led by the millennial generation. According to the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute, "young people are getting driver's licenses in smaller numbers than previous generations." Other age groups are contributing to the drop-off in driving … Continue reading Article: Young Americans leading the trend toward less driving
Cities use policy to fix the parking plight
Excessive surface parking creates virtual deserts of wasted space in cities because parking lots take up a disproportionate amount of room compared to the value they contributes to a city's economy. Some places have taken action to limit or reduce the amount of surface parking in their downtowns to create more walkable and people-friendly communities, … Continue reading Cities use policy to fix the parking plight
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