Elderly pedestrians have a greater risk of being killed by a vehicle while walking than younger people. A study by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign (which covers Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey) found that pedestrians over 60 are over 2 times as likely to be victims of vehicle-pedestrian collisions, as reported by Philly.com in an … Continue reading Article: “Older pedestrians at greatest risk of being struck”
Article: “Somehow We’re Walking More and Walking Less At the Same Time”
A recent CDC report states that a greater percentage of Americans walked for more than ten minutes straight over the course of a week in 2010 than in 2005. However, the length of time people spend walking has dropped from an average 15 minutes per day to just 13 minutes a day. Is this good … Continue reading Article: “Somehow We’re Walking More and Walking Less At the Same Time”
Take advantage of Philly parks!
Philadelphia has been acclaimed for its vast network of parks and open space, which provides citizens with access not only to green space and playgrounds, but to a variety of programs, such as farmers' markets, that enhance the quality of life for city residents. Enhancing and expanding the parks are components of the goals for Greenworks Philadelphia, the city's plan for becoming the most sustainable city in the country.
Improving walkability through “placemaking”
One of the keys to walkability is that an area looks and feels like a good place to walk. There are many features that are typical of such places, in particular, cleanliness, well-maintained properties, the presence of other pedestrians, and low crime. To improve the perception of a place to pedestrians, certain small changes can … Continue reading Improving walkability through “placemaking”
Article: Walkability is important to home buyers
It's no secret that people like walkable neighborhoods. There are a number of recent surveys, articles, and research studies that contribute to the growing body of evidence for this preference. As reported in this Good Magazine article, a survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that factors that contribute to walkability have become … Continue reading Article: Walkability is important to home buyers
Another distracted SEPTA patron makes the [international] news
A surveillance video of a man falling off the platform at the Berks station on the Market-Frankford El was the subject of a recent article in the UK's Daily Mail. The man was talking on his cell phone--further proof that distracted walking can be very dangerous! Click the link below to read the article and … Continue reading Another distracted SEPTA patron makes the [international] news
Did you know? Philly Streets Dept. publishes a weekly schedule of streets being repaved!
The wheels of cars, buses, and trucks can easily roll over the uneven pavement on streets that are being repaved. Pedestrians, however, do not have it quite as easy when crossing these streets. Roadways that are being repaved can be hazardous for a number of reasons. Manhole covers often protrude above the street, which can … Continue reading Did you know? Philly Streets Dept. publishes a weekly schedule of streets being repaved!
Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the news
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway has been gathering a lot of well-deserved attention recently. The opening of the new Barnes Foundation has added one more gem to the Parkway’s famous array of cultural institutions, which includes the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute, and the main branch of the city’s Free Library. The parkway is … Continue reading Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the news
Article: “Distracted walking a growing phone-related danger”
Texting and walking is no laughing matter! Last year, 1,152 people were admitted into hospital emergency rooms for "injuries suffered while walking and using a cellphone or some other electronic device." Phones, iPods, and other electronic devices take your attention away from your surroundings, making it easier to become a victim of a distracted walking … Continue reading Article: “Distracted walking a growing phone-related danger”
“Where’s my effin’ sidewalk” photo contest starts tomorrow!
The "Where's my effin' sidewalk?" project is a photo/video contest that Feet First Philly is holding, starting August 1, 2012. We are asking you to submit photos and videos of sidewalk encroachments* that you encounter in Philadelphia. These will be posted on FFP's flickr stream, and the three that make the most powerful statements will win a … Continue reading “Where’s my effin’ sidewalk” photo contest starts tomorrow!
