White Papers

Inclusive Planning in Tribal Communities: Engaging People With Disabilities in Designing Safe and Accessible Transportation Systems

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have the highest prevalence of disability (about 30%) of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States.  At the same time, the accessibility of public spaces and safety of roadways in tribal communities are lacking and AI/AN have a “per capita” pedestrian fatality rate more than four-and-a-half times … Continue reading Inclusive Planning in Tribal Communities: Engaging People With Disabilities in Designing Safe and Accessible Transportation Systems →

Blog

Federal Policy’s Big Moment

Even for transportation nerds, keeping track of the federal infrastructure/transportation/reconciliation showdown between Biden, the House and the Senate is difficult to follow. Let me take a shot at breaking down the big picture — because this is a potentially era-shifting moment in U.S. transportation policy. The stakes for sustainability, safety, public health and all the … Continue reading Federal Policy’s Big Moment →

How and Why to Team up with your local librarian

This is a guest blog by Noah Lenstra, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Noah has been keeping an eye on how public libraries support walking since 2016 as part of his Let’s Move in Libraries initiative. Contact: lenstra@uncg.edu / @NoahLenstra In 1976, public librarian Margaret Monroe stated that “The … Continue reading How and Why to Team up with your local librarian →

State Walking Colleges take their first steps in Georgia, South Dakota, and California

The Walking College, America Walks’ intensive online training for local advocates, is growing in popularity – we received more than 230 applicants for just 30 spots in this year’s program. However, with the generous support of AARP Livable Communities, America Walks is expanding opportunities for community change agents to build capacity, learn about best practices, … Continue reading State Walking Colleges take their first steps in Georgia, South Dakota, and California →

America Walks Launches the Georgia State Walking College

Established in 2015, The Walking College is a competitive, 6-month, remote-learning fellowship. Participants complete a series of modules covering topics including the basics of the historical underpinnings of the car-centric transportation landscape and the basics of design and policy that foster safe, inclusive, accessible design for non-motorized transportation while developing essential leadership skills – like … Continue reading America Walks Launches the Georgia State Walking College →

Our Letter on Decriminalizing Jaywalking: California Could Demonstrate National Leadership by Passing Timely Legislation

Walking is the original form of transportation and yet too often it is forgotten, actively discouraged, or even criminalized. We know that this approach harms BIPOC community members at disproportionate rates – whether through unsafe roadways or the biased application of laws against jaywalking.  We all have a responsibility to support a culture of safe … Continue reading Our Letter on Decriminalizing Jaywalking: California Could Demonstrate National Leadership by Passing Timely Legislation →

How to Design and Create Streets for Maximum Walking and Rolling – Through the Eyes of Kids

John Kamp (left) John Kamp is an urban and landscape designer, and licensed landscape contractor with Prairieform who has developed innovative tools for engaging people through their hands and senses in cities, urban design, and the natural world. He is also an experienced facilitator, trainer, and educator who leads hands-on interactive workshops with James Rojas … Continue reading How to Design and Create Streets for Maximum Walking and Rolling – Through the Eyes of Kids →

Hacking the Map Apps for Active Transportation: “Less walking” vs. “More walking” as a means of optimized movement and mobility

Jonathan Rabinowitz, PhD is the Elie Wiesel Professor at Bar Ilan University and a fellow of the American College Neuropsychopharmacology. His primary research focus ‪Jonathan Rabinowitz – ‪Google Scholar is on improving safety and efficiency of clinical trials.  His goal in this project is to improve people’s lives by increasing the amount of physical activity in their life … Continue reading Hacking the Map Apps for Active Transportation: “Less walking” vs. “More walking” as a means of optimized movement and mobility →

Over 25,000 Comments Calling for Safety and Equity Reforms to Once-Obscure Federal Street Manual

50+ Cities, Transit Agencies, Practitioners and National Organizations Call for Overhauling and Modernizing Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) By the end of Friday, May 14th, thousands of Americans had submitted over 25,000 comments in a once-in-a-decade opportunity to ask FHWA to make key changes to the Manual on Uniform … Continue reading Over 25,000 Comments Calling for Safety and Equity Reforms to Once-Obscure Federal Street Manual →

Two America Walks Board Members Testify on Transportation Equity

We will only achieve equity when everyone has access to what they need to thrive — starting with our most vulnerable people — no matter their race, socioeconomic status, identity, where they live, or how they move around. This was the driving tone and focus of the remarks from both Veronica Davis, Houston Transportation & … Continue reading Two America Walks Board Members Testify on Transportation Equity →

Our Submitted Comments to the Federal Register on the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

For being what we were just recently referring to as The Most Important Pedestrian Safety Document You’ve Never Heard Of, an impressive 25,000 plus comments were submitted to the Federal Register on the notorious Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). As a result of the incredible work of advocates like you, plus the vocal … Continue reading Our Submitted Comments to the Federal Register on the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices →