What do the mayors of London and Sydney have in common? They are both focused on improving health in their cities by redesigning the urban environment to make it easier for people to walk, bike, and take public transit. Read more in this article from the Guardian.
Philly trails expanding; preliminary designs released for Bartram’s Mile
Though the weather may still be cold, it's now officially spring. You know what that means--it's the time of year when people start returning to the city's wide network of pedestrian and bicycle trails! This year, trail users have many reasons to be excited; there are quite a few projects going on to expand existing trails … Continue reading Philly trails expanding; preliminary designs released for Bartram’s Mile
Article: Washington, D.C. school performance and walkability
As part of an open data initiative, members of the Code for DC Brigade found a correlation between higher public school performance and walkability. It is also known that walkability and access to transit increase real estate values. What does this say about DC schools, or about walkable neighborhoods, for that matter? In an … Continue reading Article: Washington, D.C. school performance and walkability
Article: History tells us that the end of the car era may be closer than we think
This article in The Atlantic Cities compares the car to older technologies such as the steamboat. At one point, it may have been hard to picture a society without these vessels, which played a huge role in the transportation of freight in the 1800's. However, thanks to technological developments since then, the steamboat has become … Continue reading Article: History tells us that the end of the car era may be closer than we think
Feet First Philly meeting coming up on 3/13!
Attention walking advocates: Feet First Philly will be holding a meeting TOMORROW, March 13th! As the weather warms up, Feet First Philly has some exciting plans for getting people walking in Philadelphia. There are lots of great topics on the agenda, including planning for Walk to Work Day, the perils of exhaust from idling vehicles, … Continue reading Feet First Philly meeting coming up on 3/13!
Article: “Lifeless” parking garage interferes with city life
In an article published today, Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron laments not only the bleak design of a new parking garage on 16th Street in Center City, but the way parking garages in general are counterproductive to enhancing city life. Not only do parking garages encourage people to drive rather than walk or take transit, but they … Continue reading Article: “Lifeless” parking garage interferes with city life
Walk to Work Day is April 12th!
San Francisco is hosting the nation's first Walk to Work Day on April 12th. Would you like to be a part of Walk to Work Day in Philadelphia? Do you have any ideas for encouraging people to walk to work or school? If so, send us an email at walkability@cleanair.org!
More cars, more problems: Growing cities must provide mobility alternatives
Cities are growing in population worldwide. Over half of the global population now lives in urban areas, and that figure is expected to increase to 75% by 2050. However, if current trends continue, more people will mean more cars than cities can support. The number of cars worldwide has already surpassed one billion, and it … Continue reading More cars, more problems: Growing cities must provide mobility alternatives
Come to the unveiling of the Action Plan for the Ben Franklin Parkway!
The Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting a public meeting this coming Monday, February 4th, to unveil their new master plan for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The plan, which aims to create better public spaces along the Parkway, was developed in conjunction with PennPraxis and input from community meetings held in July 2012. … Continue reading Come to the unveiling of the Action Plan for the Ben Franklin Parkway!
Every Body Walk! campaign encourages walking for your health
Every Body Walk! is an online educational campaign aimed at getting Americans up and moving. Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve your health, and it's advocated by doctors everywhere (including the Surgeon General) as a great way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. The educational materials and videos available at … Continue reading Every Body Walk! campaign encourages walking for your health
Feet First Philly 