Live Well. Without a Car.
Journalist Chris Balish has written and released a timely book that we
received at the America Walks office, How to Live Well Without Owning A Car.
The book is a great and timely resource with the high price of gas and
declining health. Chris shows how the combination of walking, biking, and
commuting increases health and saves money.
http://www.livecarfree.com
Now, North America Walks?
We would like to welcome our friends from the great white north, walkON
of Ontario, Canada. walkON is partnership of Healthy Lifestyle
Coalitions from six communities across Ontario providing resources and
educational tools to communities to support changes to building more
walkable communities. They welcome you to visit their new website.
http://www.walkon.ca
First National Complete Streets Report Published
The Thunderhead Alliance has published the first nationwide analysis of
policies designed to create complete streets that routinely accommodate
bicycle and pedestrian travel. The Complete Streets Report inventories
and analyzes complete streets policies around the country to help state
and local advocacy organizations spread complete streets to more
communities. http://www.completethestreets.org/completestreets/ThunderheadReport.pdf
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
We are pleased to announce that the FHWA report entitled: "How to
Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan" is now finished and has been
accepted by FHWA for release. This 152-page Guide can be found on the
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) web site. http://www.walkinginfo.org/pp/howtoguide2006.htm
The
National Center for Bicycling and Walking
The National Center for Bicycling and Walking's Internet Resource
Center is an electronic information center for bicycle and
pedestrian advocates, practitioners, public officials and
interested citizens.
http://www.bikewalk.org/
The
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
PBIC provides communities information and resources to create
safe places for bicycling and walking and to promote healthy
lifestyles and neighborhoods through increased bicycling and
walking.
http://www.walkinginfo.org
Walkable
Communities, Inc.
A non-profit corporation organized for the express purposes
of helping communities, whether they are large cities or small
towns, neighborhoods or subdivisions, become more walkable
and pedestrian friendly. In addition to presentations and
trainings by Dan Burden, the organization also provides a
small inventory of publications, video tapes and slide sets
and photo CDs to assist in further educating people interested
in the related issues of community planning and zoning, traffic
calming, street and intersection design, specific bicycle
and pedestrian facility design, ADA requirements and public
involvement processes.
http://www.walkable.org
STPP
The Surface Transportation Policy Project, maintains a site
with a ton of good information for all transportation reformers.
Check out their Mean Streets report, or the report on pedestrian
facilities in California, "Dangerous by Design."
http://www.transact.org
NHTSA
Resource Guide on Laws Related to Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Now available for download is this resource guide from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on laws related
to pedestrian and bicycle safety. The guide contains a compilation
of vehicle and traffic laws judged to have potential to affect
pedestrian or bicycle safety, either positively or negatively.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/ped/resourceguide/index.html
Victoria Transport
Policy Institute
An independent research organization dedicated to developing
innovative and practical solutions to transportation problems.
They provide a variety of resources available free at this
website to help with effective transportation planning and
policy analysis.
http://vtpi.org
The
Access Board
The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted
to accessibility for people with disabilities. Key responsibilities
of the Board include developing and maintaining accessibility
requirements for the built environment, transit vehicles,
telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information
technology; providing technical assistance and training on
these guidelines and standards; and enforcing accessibility
standards for federally funded facilities. The latest recommendations
for accessibility in the public right-of-way are available
here.
http://www.access-board.gov
America's
Walking
A series on PSB television hosted by Mark Fenton. The show
is a lively health, lifestyle, and travel program encouraging
physical activity for a longer, more vigorous life. To check
if airing locally:
http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking
Also See:
http://www.plannersnetwork.org/htm/pub/archives/fall03/fenton.htm
The
Walkable Places Project
The Walkable Places Project specializes in walkability evaluations
for community design improvements.
http://walkableplaces.com
Living
Streets
Living Streets, formerly called the Pedestrians Association,
works in the UK to improve the quality of streets and public
spaces that people on foot can use and enjoy. (The Pedestrians
Association formed in Great Britain in 1929, making Living
Streets one of the oldest pedestrian advocacy organizations
on the planet.)
http://www.livingstreets.org.uk
America
On The Move
A national initiative to help individuals and communities
across our nation make positive changes to improve health
and quality of life.
http://www.americaonthemove.org
Community
Works Skills Manual
Regan McClure, together with the Community Bicycle Network
of Toronto, has developed a free, public-domain on-line manual
for transportation reform activists. Yes, it's got that Canadian
flavor, but most of it translates well. (America Walks has
borrowed several chapters for inclusion in our Toolbox for
Pedestrian Advocates.) The Skills Manual is also available
in hard copy.
http://communitywork.org/
Partnership
for a Walkable America
A national coalition of government agencies and industry interests.
http://www.walkableamerica.org
Local Government
Commission
A nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization of forward-thinking
elected officials, city and county staff, and other interested
individuals. The LGC provides a forum and technical assistance
to enhance the ability of local governments to create and
sustain healthy environments, healthy economies, and social
equity. They have published a number of documents of interest
to pedestrian advocates, including Street Design Guidelines
for Healthy Neighborhoods.
http://www.lgc.org
Great
Streets!
"Great streets are a rare commodity today," is the
opening line of this interesting site which provides useful
images for local advocates of good design.
http://www.greatstreets.org
NewUrbanism.org
A web-based educational and advocacy organization helping
to provide information to the general public about New Urbanism.
A good resource for links on smart growth and livable communities.
http://www.newurbanism.org
Smart
Growth America
A nationwide coalition promoting a better way to grow: one
that protects farmland and open space, revitalizes neighborhoods,
keeps housing affordable, and provides more transportation
choices.
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org
Perils
for Pedestrians Television
For the best web links to every site relating to pedestrians!
http://www.pedestrians.org
PedNet
The internet mailing list on pedestrian issues, is a joint
project of Ottawalk and the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition.
Participants include pedestrian advocates, planners and professionals
from around the world.
http://www.flora.org/pednet
Kids
Walk to School
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed
a program guide to encourage children to walk or bike to and
from school in groups accompanied by adults. You can download
the guide from the KidsWalk-to-School web page at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk,
e-mailing a request for up to 25 copies to cdcinfo@cdc.gov
or calling 1-800-CDC-4NRG.
American Volkssport Association
The AVA's network of 350 Walking Clubs organize more than 3000 walking events per year in all 50 states, as well as occasional bikes, skis, and swims. All events are open to the
public. AVA is a member of the International Federation of
Popular Sports (IVV).
shapingamericasyouth.org
http://www.shapingamericasyouth.org
International
Walk to School Day
Walk Our Children to School Day. Find out how your community
can join.
http://www.walktoschool.org
World
Carshare Consortium
Carsharing is sweeping the world. This site provides up-to-date
links to carsharing organizations everywhere.
http://www.ecoplan.org/carshare
Green
Car Club
The Green Car Club is designed for owners, potential owners,
and enthusiasts of hybrids, battery-electrics, and other environment
friendly vehicles.
http://greencarclub.org
Car
Busters
Car Busters was launched in 1997 to help to unite, build and
maintain the international car-free movement. Projects include
the quarterly Car Busters Magazine, the monthly Car Busters
Email Bulletin and the provision of information and resources
through the Car Busters Resource Centre. In addition, they
promote World Car Free Days.
http://www.carbusters.org
Carfree
Cities
Carfree.com is the website that goes with the book. Carfree
Cities proposes a delightful solution to the vexing problem
of urban automobiles.
http://www.carfree.com
Walking
with Wendy Bumgardner
Want the basics of how to walk? Let Wendy give you some tips.
http://walking.about.com/sports/walking
Western
Australia Planning's "Liveable Neighbourhoods"
The Liveable Neighbourhoods policy provides an alternative
approach to the design of towns and neighborhoods, and aims
to achieve compact, well connected, safer and more vibrant
urban communities. You can download two excellent PDF documents
here.
http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/udmp/liveable.html
Living
Streets
Living Streets, formerly called the Pedestrians Association,
works in the UK to improve the quality of streets and public
spaces that people on foot can use and enjoy. (The Pedestrians
Association formed in Great Britain in 1929, making Living
Streets one of the oldest pedestrian advocacy organizations
on the planet.)
http://www.livingstreets.org.uk
Melpomene
Institute of St. Paul, MN
"Melpomene helps girls and women of all ages link their
health to physical activity through information and inspiration."
http://
www.melpomene.org
WALKArlington
WALKArlington, a program of Arlington County (VA), is probably
the most extensive local government website related to walking.
A great example for others to emulate.
http://www.walkarlington.com