Pedestrian Research

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The latest pedestrian research includes a few great pieces about kids and walking.

 Community Design and Policies for Free-Range Children: Creating Environments That Support Routine Physical Activity
Executive Summary: Growing concern over childhood obesity has prompted a focus on underlying epidemics of physical inactivity and poor nutrition. Regarding the former, there is increasing understanding that behavior change promotion alone has not increased population physical activity levels and that an ecological approach is necessary. Therefore, the public health profession has moved beyond traditional behavior change campaigns toward a growing focus on altering policies and the built environment to create settings that support increases in routine, not just exercise or leisure time, physical activity among children.

A survey of the literature suggests four broad factors that define settings where routine physical activity, especially active transportation, is more likely to occur:

• a compact variety of land uses, with a mix of destinations in close proximity;
• a comprehensive network of bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities;
• inviting and functional site designs for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users;
• safety and access for users of all ages, incomes, abilities and disabilities.

Although these principles are increasingly accepted as beneficial, not just to health but to a community’s economic, environmental, and social well-being, many contemporary ordinances and development practices undermine these outcomes. Therefore, five specific policy and intervention approaches are recommended to guide communities to these outcomes:

1. zoning and development policies to protect open space, contain sprawl, and focus investment toward thriving, mixed downtowns and village centers;
2. Complete Streets policies, which require roadways that are safe and functional for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users, as well as motor vehicles;
3. a transportation- (not just recreation-) oriented trail network;
4. creation of bicycle- and transit-friendly infrastructure and incentive policies;
5. development of policy-based Safe Routes to School interventions.

This proposed intervention framework requires evaluation both of effectiveness in increasing childhood physical activity and of the most promising means of getting policies implemented.

Get Fit or Get Hit!
This research evaluates the role that fitness plays in childhood street crossing abilities. Previous studies show that increased physical activity and aerobic fitness during childhood are associated with superior brain health, and that children with higher aerobic fitness levels show improved academic achievement and cognitive abilities, coupled with larger brain structures and more efficient brain function.

LADOT Sees the Light

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At long last LADOT has removed the reference to the outdated Herms crosswalk study from its website. Is it a sign of things to come at the LADOT? Let's hope so.

The Importance of Personal Security

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Image courtesy of clutch magazine

I write a lot on this blog about pedestrian safety, but usually my focus is on how road design, crossing treatments, sidewalks, and technology can make it safer for pedestrians to navigate public streets. But this recent Streetsblog Post about harassment in public spaces, along with stories like this one of a young man killed in random gang-related shooting, have reminded me of the other half of pedestrian safety: personal security.

We can build the most walkable streets in the country, but if people are worried about crime and harassment (unfortunately, those two words aren't always synonymous) no one is going to use them. In many ways, this is a harder problem to fix than the infrastructure one. Given enough money (and political will), building streets that are physically safe for pedestrians becomes a relatively simple exercise in engineering. When it comes to personal security, we're faced with complex social problems that don't have easy solutions.

That's doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

As pedestrian advocates, we need to recognize that part of our job--our first job, really--is to create spaces where people feel secure walking. Toward that end, we must partner with people who are working to address this issue (police departments, gang prevention advocates, women's groups and others who fight against street harassment). Otherwise we run the risk of designing beautifully walkable--but empty--streets.

This week on foot

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This week we learn How Dogs Saved a Los Angeles Neighborhood, and that The Most Walkable Streets in San Francisco Aren’t Always the Ones You’d Think. We're told to Give the people what they want: A walkable city--or do they? Because also this week a 'Pedestrian place' decision postponed in Canada and Businesses Hope to Put Brakes on Proposed Pedestrian Plaza in New York due to concerns over (you guessed it) losing parking. At least outside the US they got the memo, as this week Bhutan introduces weekly 'pedestrian day'.  Although in Manila they don't seem to be quite as sympathetic, since they're telling citizens to Use footbridges and pedestrian lanes, or pay P200—MMDA

Meanwhile, the City's sidewalk situation is dire, public board tells Lansing City Council, and the Increasing road toll for elderly pedestrians provokes alarm. It shows why its so important to understand How walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods help seniors... and younger folks. Perhaps walkability have helped this situation where Pedestrian dies after being struck crossing Long Beach street, although some strongly believe that Distracted Pedestrians As Dangerous as Distracted Drivers

Elsewhere people we're wondering What is it with Canadian drivers and pedestrians? (And why can't Americans be the same way?), and Are the suburbs made for walking? Maybe An Atlas of Suburbanisms can help us figure it out. If not, we can always look to Brant Street in Burlington a Model for Walkable Streets for pointers.

More great walking webinars

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Health and Equity in Transportation: Promising Methods and Modes to Improve Health Outcomes

APHA will host a free webinar series on critical health and equity issues within the transportation sector. These three, 60-minute APHA webinars will explore the ties between public health and:

· Increased use of public transportation;

· Reduced injuries, particularly for children and young drivers;

· Reduced inequities from increased access to goods and services; and

· Other topics within transportation, such as updates on the federal surface transportation authorization.

We invite professionals in public health, transportation and other related sectors to participate in this new webinar series for 2012. Participants must register to join the webinar. NOTE: registration is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register here.

1: What Public Transit means for Public Health

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

2-3 pm EDT

Explore how public transit may impact health, via increased physical activity, improved air quality and reduced risk of injuries from crashes. Hear about health impact assessments (HIAs) that estimated how increased spending on public transportation and sustainable modes of transportation can both benefit health and reduce social inequities. Introductory remarks by APHA Associate Executive Director Susan Polan, and presentations by Tracy Buck, MS, RD, Nashville Metro Public Health and Brian Cole, DrPH, UCLA School of Public Health.