Where the Sidewalk Starts Heads South

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If blogging has been a bit sparse over the past few weeks, it's for good reason: our household is leaving the wilds of Los Angeles and heading to that raucous border town San Diego. I might not have been writing about pedestrian issues much lately, but they have certainly been my mind as we contemplate where to live in our new town.

WalkScore has played an important role in our housing search, and has been telling to test its algorithms out against what we see on the ground. As a reference point, our Woodland Hills home has a walkscore of 78: we don't have sidewalks, closely-spaced crosswalks, or many street trees--but we do have an abundance of commercial and civic sites within walking distance. With three grocery stores, banks, a library, drugstores, a pet store, restaurants, a hardware store, and more within a half-mile of our front door, we could conceivably ditch our car for much of our everyday errands.

On the other hand, as my husband points out, "I don't need to be able to walk to the optometrist, I just want a cool pub nearby." You may remember that he's not the only one who thinks this way. Earlier this year Scott Doyon released his map of "pub sheds" in Decatur, Georgia, his take on measuring walkability by proximity to beer.

It might sound silly at first, but it's actually a valid point. Pubs, like cafes, squares, and parks, function as important "third places" where people in the neighborhood can gather, meet one another, chat about local issues, and generally do the things that build community. While it's nice to be able to get your milk and pick up some doorknobs without getting in your car, running errands on foot doesn't necessarily help to build relationships that lead people to invest in, and feel connected to, their community.

Given this, we're willing to accept living in a neighborhood that has a lower walkscore--as long as we can walk to a wine bar. Fingers are crossed...

This Week on Foot

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Photo courtesy of www.thehindu.com

This week people in India are talking about The right to walk with dignity -- and including some performance art to get the conversation started. Meanwhile in Pakistan they're worried that Signal-free corridors cause inconvenience to pedestrians. But in Australia they're blaming the pedestrians for the problem, claiming Pedestrians walk the line with dangerous act of jaywalking. Yes, you read that right. Pakistan is taking a better stance on pedestrian safety than Australia.

Closer to home, Pedestrian struck by minivan In Redondo, PCH closed at scene. There's a High number of pedestrian deaths in Oregon this year, perhaps one reason that  Germantown Teen’s Death Frames Discussion on Pedestrian Safety. And even though we might be Moving toward walkable neighborhoods for older adults, we still need to Fix our sidewalks.

One place with decent sidewalks is San Diego County's National City #1 in walkability, survey shows. Not to be outdone Southeast Atlanta Rallies for "Smart" Development, and New Yorkers consider Revitalizing a Dead Mall (Don’t Expect Shoppers)

As we consider this week What makes a place "walkable"? we think about Why the 'Trick-or-Treat Test' Still Matters.

And now that trick-or-treating is safely behind us, remember that with the change in time this weekend Less daylight could mean more danger for motorists and pedestrians, troopers say

Back in Europe this week we learn about Award for Europe's most beautiful pedestrian bridge, argue that It's time for pedestrians to reclaim our streets with 20mph speed limit, and consider How cyclists and pedestrians can share space on canal towpaths.

Finally, if you're like us and hunting for a house this week, you might want to  check out this list of America's Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods--all walkable of course. Because walking is what all the hip kids do.

Happy Halloween!

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We're looking forward to taking our little bee out for her second Halloween tonight (and to stealing--er, sorting--her candy). If you're up to the same this evening, remember that Halloween is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for pedestrians--especially little goblins and ladybugs--so be vigilant as you navigate the streets out there.

Wondering where to take your werewolves to howl? Check out Zillow's 2012 list of the best cities (and neighborhoods) for trick-or-treating, which incorporates WalkScore's ranking as part of the criteria its uses in compiling the list.

 

 

This Week on Foot

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This awesome photo courtesy of streetsblog

We're full of questions this week. Are “public” streets actually public? Are Salt Lake pedestrians safe? Can Insurers go After a Pedestrian?

We might not be able to answer all those ones, but we can learn more about Chicago's Strategies in the Pedestrian Plan: Remove all channelized right turns in 3 years, how the Feds consider rule for electric car noises to alert blind pedestrians, or discover the mysteries of Pedestrian enforcement from the inside.

Meanwhile, we're reminded that Walkable neighbourhoods tied to lower diabetes risk--along with a healthy diet of course. And speaking of diets, this week Westside’s Motor Avenue Gets Road Diet and Bike Lanes, and Capital Region cities seek to bridge a pedestrian divide, while on a less-promising note a Long Beach pedestrian killed when struck by jeep near Traffic Circle.

Outside the US Stainless Steel Bridge Arches Support Sölvesborg Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge while Toronto construction projects to try new pedestrian-friendly scaffolding. In India, Pedestrians’ safety on the line in Bangalore, while in China Better traffic lights can prevent jaywalking.

Finally, this week Atlantic Cities' urban walk combines two of my favorite topics-- parking and pedestrians-- and ask Could Parking Lot Walkways Point the Way to Walkable Redevelopment? What do you think?

2012 Great Streets

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photo courtesy of the bailey post

The American Planning Association (APA) has announced its 2012 list of Great Streets across the country. What is a Great Street, you ask? The APA considers three main characteristics in its evaluation of streets:

1. Street Form and Composition - Does the street accommodate multiple users? Does it encourage social interaction?
2. Street Character and Personality - Does the street reflect the local culture? Is it an interesting place to be?
3. Street Environment and Sustainable Practices - Does the street use green infrastructure? Does it promote sustainability?

This year, the streets that demonstrate all those characteristics are (not in California): 

• Duval Street in Key West, Florida
• Ward Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri
• Main Street in Bozeman, Montana
• Wall Street in Kingston, New York
• Fifth Avenue in New York, New York
• Broadway in Saratoga Springs, New York
• Shaker Boulevard in Cleveland, Ohio
• Grant Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia
• Broad Street in Charleston, South Carolina
• Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee

You can view pictures and details about the streets on the APA's website here.