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!
“Trick-or-treat test” another great way to measure walkability
There are a number of ways to measure walkability--we've talked about Walk Score and Walk Appeal before--but none is more fitting for this time of year than the "trick-or-treat" test. Like the popsicle test, the trick-or-treat test uses the walking behavior of children to assess how walkable a neighborhood is. In a blog post for … Continue reading “Trick-or-treat test” another great way to measure walkability
Article: Study finds that darting into street is a top reason young children are struck by cars
An American Academy of Pediatrics study analyzed the cause of child pedestrian crashes in the cases of children admitted to a particular trauma center in New York. Jaywalking was a common cause of accidents for children ages 7 to 12. In the majority of accidents where the victim was a child of 6 years old … Continue reading Article: Study finds that darting into street is a top reason young children are struck by cars
Article: Older kids now at greater risk for pedestrian injury
An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer introduces some scary statistics about pediatric pedestrian injuries. It outlines the takeaways from a report released recently by Safe Kids Worldwide concerning childhood risk of pedestrian injury. The report states that teens and tweens (kids ages 10 through 19) are now the childhood age group most likely to be … Continue reading Article: Older kids now at greater risk for pedestrian injury
Safe Routes to School
It's that time of year again--Labor Day is well behind us, a hint of fall weather is in the air, and children in the Delaware Valley are returning to school. If you like the idea of fitting exercise into daily life by walking to school but are concerned about your students' safety, look no further … Continue reading Safe Routes to School
Article: Portland will lower speeds to 20 mph on residential greenway streets
Portland is making neighborhood greenways safer for pedestrians! Portland's neighborhood greenways are a network of roads that have been redesigned with bicycles and pedestrians in mind. Among other things, these streets have improved stormwater management and better pedestrian crossings. The greenways, which already have low car traffic, will now have lower speed limits as well. … Continue reading Article: Portland will lower speeds to 20 mph on residential greenway streets
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”
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!
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”
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