Philadelphia has lots of great public spaces, but for today only, a few more have popped up. It's Park(ing) Day, where citizens and organizations transform ordinary street parking spots into public spaces! Park(ing) Day is a worldwide event held on the third Friday in September. This year, activists, artists, and others have created 59 temporary … Continue reading Park(ing) Day creates more space for people
Article: Front porches making a comeback!
An article in USA Today says that 65% of new homes built last year have porches. Because front porches facilitate casual social interaction with passersby and evoke a style that was popular before suburban sprawl took off, the resurgence of the front porch shows that market preferences have shifted in favor of dense, walkable communities. … Continue reading Article: Front porches making a comeback!
D.C. blogger defends “schlepping” groceries
Living without access to a car usually means that you have to "schlep" groceries home on foot or by bike or public transit. While some may see this as an inconvenience, schlepping has many health benefits, and it's not just the workout you get from carrying heavy bags across town.In a post entitled "The Hidden … Continue reading D.C. blogger defends “schlepping” groceries
New pedestrian plaza at 42nd and Woodland!
A new pedestrian plaza is popping up at 42nd Street and Woodland Avenue in University City! According to the Naked Philly real estate blog, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the plaza on September 19th.Do you know of any other underutilized paved areas that could be redesigned as public space for pedestrians? Tell us … Continue reading New pedestrian plaza at 42nd and Woodland!
Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides to host “Great 12-Hour Tour”
Do you like walking? No, seriously. Do you REALLY like walking? On September 8th, The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides is holding the 3rd annual "Great 12-Hour Tour of Philadelphia." That's right, twelve hours. This tour will take you on a trip through Philadelphia history, beginning at the National Constitution Center at 8:00 a.m. and winding … Continue reading Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides to host “Great 12-Hour Tour”
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”
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
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
“Walk Appeal” affects how pedestrians interact with the built environment
The built environment has a huge influence on walkability. You probably have an idea of what features of a street make it more or less walkable, but have you given it much thought? There are a number of different frameworks that have been developed to guide the way we think about this. Some, such as … Continue reading “Walk Appeal” affects how pedestrians interact with the built environment
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