America Walks Blog

Posted on January 5, 2021

America Walks Honors Jay Walljasper – Prolific Storyteller and Champion for Unsung Walkable Communities

This is a guest blog and tribute written by Kate Kraft, Tyler Norris and Ian Thomas, all of whom worked closely with Jay Walljasper through America Walks and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative over the years.  Often times the world of walking advocacy can seem so small and insular despite…

Posted on November 24, 2020

It takes a Village! Creating and Installing our Community-Engaged University of Massachusetts Boston Harborwalk Grace Trail

This is a guest blog written by Sarah Camhi and Linda Chiofar, with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston. They were the recipients of our 2020 Community Change Grant Program. Our University and Local Community Needs University students have high levels of stress…

Posted on November 24, 2020

The Walkability Movement and a New, Biden Administration

The following blog was written by America Walks’ Executive Director Mike McGinn. A change in administrations can be a time of great possibility and hope – that the right people and policies can finally generate real change on the ground.  But we all know it won’t be easy. I rode…

Posted on November 5, 2020

New Podcast Series Examines Intersection of Walkability and Race

Lily Linke is an artist, educator, and urban planner who specializes in community engagement. She recently completed her Masters degree at Tufts University in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, and she is currently on the job market! You can reach her at lilymhlinke@gmail.com. Deciding to focus on walkability for…

Posted on October 28, 2020

We Asked NHTSA to Rewrite the Pedestrian Safety Playbook

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) declared October to be Pedestrian Safety Month – which was a laudable first for them. But the “Pedestrian Safety Playbook” they put out to support local public education efforts badly missed the mark. Put simply, NHTSA focused on behavior change, and particularly pedestrian…

Posted on October 26, 2020

How Can Walking Advocates and Leaders Address Transportation Equity for Latino Communities?

This month we were grateful to co-host the Twitter Chat, How to Address Transportation Equity for Latino Communities, hosted by Salud America as part of their regular #SaludTues Twitter Chats. Check out this recap of our points and some supportive links to relevant resources. 1. In what ways has an…

Posted on October 13, 2020

We Can’t Walk If We Can’t Breathe: The Imperative for Racial Equity

This is a guest blog written by Lawrence T. Brown, the proud grandson and son of Mississippi Delta sharecroppers and preachers.  Lawrence is a visiting associate professor at the University of Wisconsin.  His research examines the impact of historical trauma on community health.  In June 2018, he was honored by OSI Baltimore…

Posted on October 2, 2020

How to Conduct a Walk Audit in Your Community – Quick Video Guide for Assessing Your Neighborhood Walkability

A walk audit is an assessment of the pedestrian safety, accessibility, and comfort of a particular area. In addition to documenting specific issues and engaging the community in advocating for improvements, walk audits can be most effective when public officials and community members of varying backgrounds, ages and abilities are…

Posted on September 11, 2020

The Federal Government Can Spur Dramatic Transformation for Pedestrian Safety (if it so chooses)

The following blog is a set of people-first policy recommendations that America Walks’ Executive Director Mike McGinn recently sent to the US Department of Transportation.  Dear USDOT, Thank you for requesting input on pedestrian safety. Pedestrian deaths reached a 30-year high in 2019. They have increased 60% in the last ten years. Traffic…