Accessible Walkability~The Fabric of Community
Distraction~A Driver’s Problem, Not a Pedestrian’s
View image on Twitter NJ.com The title said it all in this tweet from a New Jersey company-“City narrows roads because you won’t stop texting while walking”. But um, no, the correct reframe is “city narrows crossing distance at intersection to make pedestrians safer”. And this whole thing about pedestrians being hit by vehicles…
Does Better Walking Infrastructure Ward Off Depression?
The link between walkability and improving mental health is one that the Directors of Walk Metro Vancouver perceive as vital to communities. The New York Times writes about three new studies on depression and regular exercise that should impact how we build cities and how we enhance walkability for sociability and mental fitness. Reviewing the…
Anish Kapoor’s “Ascension” Public Art Piece in Brooklyn Park
Sandy James Image For the fortieth anniversary of the City of New York’s public art fund, Anish Kapoor’s “Descension” public art piece has been placed in Brooklyn Bridge Park from May until September. This is a very visceral work ,in that it is a “negative” space work-it looks like a large round swimming pool…
How Can Cities and Towns become more Walkable?
Sandy James Photos From the Daily Durning comes an interesting article from governing.com on the importance of sidewalks to the liveliness of cities and places. Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities established the concept that holistic communities are based upon the opportunity to have face to face contacts with neighbours. Jane wrote: “Lowly, unpurposeful and…
Do Pedestrian Push Buttons Calm Tourists? Why Do We Have Them?
As reported in the Boston Globe, more American cities are taking the attitude that their city traffic flows well without the intervention of pedestrians touching the walk/don’t walk push button. Imagine-remember all those times you were visiting New York, Seattle and London and thought that merely pressing the pedestrian walk button somehow gave you unbridled…
