Urban Planner Sandy James on the transformative power of urban walkability

Vancouver City Planner, Sandra James gives examples of how making a community more walkable, can change the social fabric of a neighborhood or a community.

#comingsoon #walkability #walkyeg #walkableyeg #walkableedmonton #yeg pic.twitter.com/PLAqdqvnh2

— Walkable Edmonton (@walkableYEG) September 2, 2016

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Twitter list — Walking, cycling, transit

Tweets from https://twitter.com/NanaimoCommons/lists/walking-cycling-transit

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From Slow Streets — Elements that Make Pedestrian Streets Work

We currently dedicate an excessive amount of our street public space for the movement and storage of automobiles. We can bring dignity to our streets where people live, work and play by reclaiming it for people. It has been shown that cities are significantly quieter when there are lower traffic volumes, or even when the vehicle traveling speeds slow down to a human speed (40-30kph). There are also fewer automobile related injuries and fatalities. It can also make us happier since we can spend more time outside and meet more of our neighbours.

So how can we reclaim some of this space? Pedestrian streets offer one way to do this, but it has been demonstrated that pedestrian streets in North America have failed in the past (see Buffalo’s Main Street, Ottawa’s Sparks Street, and other examples). But many cities feature widely-visited, vibrant pedestrian streets in different city scales, climates and cultures throughout Europe including Northbrook St. in Newbury, UK (pop. 31,331 in 2011), Calle San Jacinto in Seville, Spain (pop. 702,355 in 2012), Exhibition Road in London, UK (pop. 8.3 million in 2013). They also exist in various sizes either as a short section of one street or a network of car-free streets such as in Delft, Netherlands or the Stroget in Copenhagen. This article explores several of these successful pedestrian streets and breaks down several of the elements that make them work. Read more: Critical Elements to Make Pedestrian Streets Work | SLOW STREETS

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Nov. 4th: #Victoria Walk the Talk with @BrentToderian @GVCC @VicPlacemaking

Pls join us Nov. 4th: Walk the Talk w @BrentToderian our fall #TransForm event w @VicPlacemaking #yyjevents pic.twitter.com/tiUtJ3FX2z

— GreaterVictoriaCycle (@GVCC) October 14, 2015

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Pedestrian upgrades underway in the Old City Quarter

Pedestrian upgrades in the Old City Quarter are scheduled to be constructed this Fall. Improvements include curb extensions at Fitzwilliam Street & Selby Street and Fitzwilliam Street & Wesley Street. The improvements are intended to create a safer environment for pedestrians by making them more visible to motorists when they are waiting to cross the street. The project also includes installing a rain garden at the southeast corner of the Fitzwilliam Street and Selby Street intersection. Rain gardens are an engineered landscape feature which is designed to absorb and filter rain water through soil layers and plantings, thereby increasing infiltration of rain water into the ground. More at City of Nanaimo: Pedestrian Upgrades underway in the Old City Quarter

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From CityLab — Getting smaller cities walking

After counting pedestrians on hundreds of blocks (sampled for different densities, districts, and Walk Scores), a group of researchers found that active uses (i.e., well-trafficked buildings or busy parks, schools, and cafes), street furniture or items (from benches to fire hydrants to ATM machines), and first-floor windows (measured by window-to-facade ratio) all had statistically positive relationships to the number of pedestrians. 

But are these findings applicable elsewhere? There’s so much that sets New York apart from other American cities: its density, its walkability, its spread of urban versus suburban development, among others. What about smaller towns? What are the design traits that most encourage pedestrian activity on these streets? Read more: New Study Shows Urban Design Matters When It Comes to Pedestrian Activity in Salt Lake City - CityLab

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#Squamish Councillor Susan Chapelle — An advocate for community walkability

Healthy Built Environment toolkit: Improved productivity, improved social cohesion, decreased obesity, increased... http://t.co/KwQpc14LRg
— Susan Chapelle (@squamishsusan) March 10, 2015

As I advocate for community #walkability, lets look at the economic benefits from a policy perspective. http://t.co/iUsYk6ymqG
— Susan Chapelle (@squamishsusan) March 10, 2015

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From @Livability — 2014 10 Best Downtowns #8: Bellingham, Washington

Since 1988, Bellingham, Wash., city and community leaders have followed a plan to improve their small yet vibrant downtown. Sure, that plan has changed from time to time, getting an update here and there, and while new construction projects and even revitalization plans are still in the works, the results speak for themselves. More than 1,000 new residences were constructed downtown, renovated storefronts and redesigned streets enhanced the visual appeal, and businesses have created more jobs. 

Local business owners make up the majority of Bellingham's economy, which keeps money in the pockets of residents who reinvest in their community by supporting other local businesses.

This city by the bay has become a model for urban sustainability, and the downtown area highlights how a local living economy can work. 

The "buy local" movement is strongly supported, and some residents even barter with others for food, services and building supplies. 

A population of nearly 2,400 residents and about 7,500 employees in the downtown area enjoy a highly walkable community with easy access to grocery stores, parks, restaurants and entertainment venues. Depot Market, a central gathering point in the downtown area, hosts the Bellingham Farmers Market, one of the largest farmers markets in Washington, plus many other events throughout the year.

Bellingham holds the second highest ratio of arts-related businesses to residents in the country, and it shows. Functional works of art like benches, street lights, trash cans and bicycle racks add a touch of whimsy across downtown. Whatcom Creek creates a natural boundary around the Cultural Arts District, which includes the beautifully restored Mt. Baker Theatre as well as Whatcom Museum and Pickford Film Center. Events like summer concerts, food festivals and parades draw thousands of people to this area. Downtown Bellingham is dotted with green parks, yet one of the largest green spaces, Sehome Hill Arboretum, is located less than a mile south of the Arts District, near Western Washington University. Read more: Bellingham, Washington | 2014 10 Best Downtowns

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Ranking Criteria • Vacancy rate • Population increase since 2010 • Percentage of new homeowners • Daytime population • Projected median household income • Walk Score • Entertainment options • Arts/Cultural attractions

Pedestrian "Barnes Dance" Shibuya part of Tokyo

Post by The Sidewalk Ballet.

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Calgary pedestrian strategy could retrofit long-neglected pedestrian realm @metrocalgary

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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From Smart Growth America — A national epidemic of pedestrian deaths

A national epidemic 
of pedestrian deaths

We’re walking more often, for fun and to get to places in our neighborhood. We turn to WalkScore when figuring out where to live and our most walkable places often are among the most economically vibrant in the country. Hundreds of cities have adopted Complete Streets policies to ensure walking is in the forefront of our decisions regarding street design. Public health officials from the Office of the Surgeon General to the local doctor’s office are encouraging us to get out for a walk for physical activity and to combat chronic disease.

But we are still dealing with a legacy of roadways that fail to account for the safety of people on foot. In the decade from 2003 through 2012, more than 47,000 people died while walking on our streets. That is 16 times the number of people who died in natural disasters during in the same ten years, but without the corresponding level of urgency.

In 2012, pedestrians accounted for nearly 15 percent of all traffic deaths, up 6 percent from 2011 and representing a five-year high.  Read more: A national epidemic of pedestrian deaths | Smart Growth America

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"Beneath veneer of scientific neutrality traffic engineering operates to prejudice of anyone on foot" @CityLab

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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"A lot of people don’t walk because they are afraid it will kill them before it makes them healthier" @CityLab http://t.co/agAp1qhn3g

— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) December 30, 2014

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From Project for Public Spaces — Walkability, Quality Public Space Can Be Created in Communities of Any Size

It is true that larger communities often have greater financial resources than smaller communities to mitigate challenges, but there still are appropriate solutions for each and every community. Take Golden, Colorado – Population: 19,186. You probably think Golden, Colorado is either a resort community or a suburb of Denver. It’s actually neither. A mountain community with its own vibrant, local economy, Golden, Colorado has made a commitment to creating places that are designed for people – not cars. And their economy has benefited greatly from this commitment. Read more: Project for Public Spaces | Walkability, Quality Public Spaces Can Be Created in Communities of Any Size

From StrongTowns.org — Just another pedestrian killed

CHARLES MAROHN I’m fed up with people being killed because my profession contains a bunch of dogmatic idiots. I’m sure the response of some will be: But Chuck, the driver was drunk, this isn’t the engineer’s fault. Ridiculous. If I had a $100 for every time I heard an engineer recommend some stupid tree removal or curve widening because “some drunk is going to come through here and get killed” I would be fully funding Strong Towns with the interest off my latent wealth. We consider the drunk when it suits our purposes -- the free flow of traffic -- and ignore them when it doesn't. That's the sign of a broken moral compass.

The right thing to do here is pretty obvious: SLOW DOWN THE CARS! When you enter into an urban environment, the expectation must be that travel speeds are very slow (I think a 20 mph design speed is too fast – 15 mph would be the top in my opinion) because we need to FORGIVE the common mistakes of humans, both in their cars and out. In a complex urban environment, the only way to do that is to slow down the speed of travel. We must lower the cost of a mistake. Read more: JUST ANOTHER PEDESTRIAN KILLED

Just another pedestrian killed. When will the traffic engineering profession own these tragedies? http://t.co/DduHSRrquS
— Charles Marohn (@clmarohn) December 3, 2014

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Downtown San Diego "Portland Loo" celebrated @GirlsThinkTank

.@GirlsThinkTank celebrated the installation of a bathroom facility at 14th and L Street. | http://t.co/KDeiXCAXaG pic.twitter.com/S5NinZyEJR
— Anthony Bernal (@AnthonyBernalSD) December 3, 2014

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From Project for Public Spaces — How to Restore Walking as a Way of Life

The bias in our national philosophy towards high speed mobility has long been a topic that PPS has advocated against. In addition to stifling Placemaking, forcing people into cars has contributed to a host of growing national problems. Most compelling of those problems is the incredible pedestrian carnage. Yet until recently public outcry was minimal and government investment in transportation paid only lip service to annual fatalities that amount to the equivalent of one major airplane crash each month. Read more: Project for Public Spaces | How to Restore Walking as a Way of Life

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Jeff Speck's Albuquerque New Mexico Downtown Walkability Analysis

Albuquerque, New Mexico Downtown Walkability Analysis. This project focuses on walkability and connectivity in downtown, with special attention to the area surrounding the Convention Center and Innovate ABQ site as well as the railroad track at Central Avenue. Jeff Speck's final report submitted Sept 2014 here. More from the City of Albuquerque's website here.

From Better! Cities & Towns — A low-cost approach to walkability

Making downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, more walkable doesn’t have to cost a bundle, according to consultant Jeff Speck. The author of Walkable City delivered a report to the city, which included the following recommendations:.

• Replace 19 low-volume traffic lights with stop signs.

• Narrow standard 12-foot travel lanes lanes to 10 feet. “This extra (lane) width does nothing except to encourage speeding,” he said. “It doesn’t improve the flow.”

• Convert two streets to two-way traffic from one-way.

• Provide more green space.

• Reduce the number of travel lanes on a few streets.

• Provide more on-street parking, which buffers pedestrians, and bicycle lanes. Reduction in lanes and lane widths will provide the space.

• Reduce the size of a major public space, Civic Plaza, which Speck says is too big to feel comfortable for pedestrians.

Read more: A low-cost approach to walkability | Better! Cities & Towns Online

RT @DenverWWAD @SFUPublicSquare Video on Civic Engagement

For #walkers interested in health issues: Video on Civic Engagement http://t.co/wEu1i2SA39 via @NanaimoCommons @SFUPublicSquare:

— Walk with a Doc DEN (@DenverWWAD) October 14, 2014

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In honour of #InternationalWalkToSchoolDay @BrentToderian

"Your point? Made." In honour of #InternationalWalkToSchoolDay, #LetKidsRide or #LetKidsWalk to school. pic.twitter.com/l5UQzby6EF

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 8, 2014

"There is too much #traffic for Billy to walk to school. So we drive him." We can change this. Help spread the word. pic.twitter.com/FC93lCsqmP

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 17, 2014

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