Marcus Westbury, Australian urbanist and founder of the nonprofit "Renew Newcastle," believes that the terminology often used for small-scale projects meant to revitalize urban places and kick start development can be misleading. Phrases such as "pop-up parks" and "tactical urbanism" suggest temporary fixes to persistent problems, which misses the bigger point that the methods used … Continue reading Why “pop-up” placemaking may be a misnomer
Feet First Philly in the news!
Feet First Philly's projects have been getting some media attention! Read about the walkable alleys of Philadelphia at Walk Score, and see PlanPhilly's Eyes on the Street blog for a feature about our recent sidewalk photo contest.
Article: Ten steps of walkability
Walkable City, the new book by urban planner Jeff Speck, has been getting a lot of attention. It's been touted as one of the top ten planning books of 2013, and it's a valuable read for anyone interested in the benefits of walkability (for more info, read this interview with the author over at The Atlantic Cities). Kaid Benfield … Continue reading Article: Ten steps of walkability
Article: Less than 25% of Americans walk for more than 10 minutes continuously in a typical week
This article from Science Daily draws attention to the fact that many Americans live a sedentary lifestyle. But what exactly does that mean? How sedentary are we? Well, according to a recent study, less than a quarter of Americans walks for more than ten consecutive minutes in a typical week. The researchers partially attribute this phenomenon … Continue reading Article: Less than 25% of Americans walk for more than 10 minutes continuously in a typical week
Photo contest winners announced!
Feet First Philly's "Where's my effin' sidewalk?" photo contest has come to an end, and the winners have been chosen! Below are the photos that won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The photos were judged based on the strength of the statement they made about sidewalk encroachments--things that get in the way of pedestrians' regular … Continue reading Photo contest winners announced!
Discover Philadelphia’s historic alley streets; Walk Score hosts local holiday shopping giveaway
Discover Philadelphia's historic alley streets Philadelphia has a rich history that dates back to the 17th century, which is quite a long time long before cars ruled the road. Many of the city's earlier streets were designed not only for horses and carriages, but for people as well. To this day, more than a few … Continue reading Discover Philadelphia’s historic alley streets; Walk Score hosts local holiday shopping giveaway
UPDATE: Article: Recent study shows that the shift to walkable urban places is good for the economy
The growing preference for walkable communities isn't just a fad; there's proof that it's economically viable. A recent study by Christopher Leinberger, a professor at George Washington University, shows that rents for office space are 75% higher in walkable urban places in the D.C. metro area than in car-oriented suburbs. Walkable places fit more properties … Continue reading UPDATE: Article: Recent study shows that the shift to walkable urban places is good for the economy
TONIGHT! Feet First Philly’s November Meeting
Tonight (Monday, November 19th at 6 pm): Come one, come all to FFP's November meeting! We've got lots of updates for you on projects such as intersection surveying and our photo contest (which is still open to submissions; send photos of sidewalk encroachments to walkability@cleanair.org)! For more information, check out the facebook event.
Take the 2-mile challenge!
Did you know that about 40% of trips in urban areas are 2 miles or less? That means they would take about 40 minutes to walk, yet 90% of these trips are made by car. It costs a lot to run a car (about $5,170 per year, in fact). Plus, driving is one of the … Continue reading Take the 2-mile challenge!
Upcoming Walking Tours
Philadelphia's compact street grid and numerous parks and trails help to make it an excellent place to experience on foot. Don't let the chilly weather put a damper on your walk! There's still time to go on one of the many walking tours that are offered throughout the city! While the tour season has ended … Continue reading Upcoming Walking Tours
Feet First Philly 