Walking – Healthsynonym https://healthsynonym.com Healthsynonym Mon, 25 Nov 2024 22:14:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 230764952 Treating Visitors Deaths As An Epidemic https://healthsynonym.com/treating-visitors-deaths-as-an-epidemic/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 22:14:14 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/treating-traffic-deaths-as-an-epidemic/ Read More "Treating Visitors Deaths As An Epidemic"]]>

David Ederer with CDC background

In case you are concerned with transportation, it’s possible that you simply discovered in regards to the “3 E’s of security” – Training, Enforcement and Engineering. It sounds logical, absolutely you want these three issues. However whether or not by research or lived expertise it turns into apparent that schooling and enforcement are insufficient in response to street designs that encourage dashing and the growing measurement and weight of autos. We are able to inform folks all day to “decelerate”, however that doesn’t do a lot when the constructed setting is saying “go quick”. Certainly, calls to put on shiny clothes or carry a flashlight begin to sound like an evasion of duty by the folks with the facility and skill to design roads and autos to make sure secure outcomes.  

Thus entered the “Protected Techniques Method” with its commendable try to offer larger readability on the right way to obtain security, and its exhortation for design to  acknowledge that people could make errors. Sadly, the three E’s crowd can nonetheless shoehorn the previous conceptual method into the Protected Techniques Method, which requires Safer Roads, Safer Autos, Safer Individuals and Safer Speeds. 

So the right way to prioritize interventions? The “Protected Techniques Pyramid” (sounds related however is radically totally different) – takes an epidemiological method to establish the agent of illness.

Epidemiologic Triad shows the three social determinants of health: host, agent and environment and their relationship to disease

Presenter Dr. Dave Ederer, who co-authored the groundbreaking paper on the Pyramid, mentioned malaria for example. Malaria is the agent and it’s unfold by mosquitoes. To disrupt the unfold you may separate folks from mosquitos and you may change the setting by eradicating standing water through which mosquitos breed.

For site visitors security the agent is vitality (the pace and mass of autos) impacting upon fragile human our bodies. That’s what kills folks. As tempting as it’s in charge inattention or allegedly poor clothes selections, these particular person selections go to how the reason for loss of life reaches the host, it isn’t the agent. When the illness you can begin pondering rationally about the right way to disrupt its unfold to folks and within the setting. For instance, the three level seat belt bodily prevents heads from hitting dashboards and now we have properly required it in all autos. It disrupts the chain of causation.

The well being occupation additionally depends on the  well being impression pyramid, which prioritizes motion by inspecting totally different approaches and rating them. One thing related could be present in OSHA’s hierarchy of controls.

Not surprisingly, schooling, or administrative controls (guidelines) are the least efficient interventions. They require plenty of folks to make the correct selections, generally towards their very own evaluation within the second. (“I can sneak a have a look at the textual content message” or “that crosswalk is simply too distant, I can cross right here.”) In distinction, actions that separate the agent and host, take no particular person effort, and are “all the time on” have the best impression. Think about housing near your locations with road design compelling sluggish car speeds. 

Put all of it collectively, and now we have the Protected Techniques Pyramid

Safe systems pyramid

We’ve already mentioned schooling, so let’s have a look at every degree for different examples

Lively measures Seat belts are lively as a result of you need to take motion every time.
Latent Security Measures Crumple zone in your car, or a bollard on the roadway edge, are “all the time on”.
Constructed setting Roadway design to cut back speeds.
Socioeconomic elements Place jobs, retails faculties and housing shut sufficient to one another to cut back time on the street. It’s “all the time on” and has a broad inhabitants impression.

With this method, you may establish how different interventions match into the Protected Techniques Pyramid. A broad spectrum of security professionals and advocates are actually urging transportation companies to formally undertake the Protected Techniques Pyramid.

The following webinar presenter, Steph Leonard, is at the moment working to implement the Pyramid throughout state companies in Colorado, together with public well being and transportation departments. She introduced how Colorado makes use of the Pyramid to have a look at the underlying social context through which crashes happen, establish the place accidents happen, and assist applicable interventions.

map showing communities impacted by crashes are disproportionately low income, people of color, people experiencing housing burdens, linguistically isolated, living in tribal communities, justice40 communities, and enviroscreen communities

Another observations from the webinar

It seems that CDC as soon as had an engineering division and the CDC’s first director was an engineer.  Someway, that hyperlink between public well being and engineering has been misplaced though traditionally that hyperlink was sturdy. Think about how engineers had a central function in constructing clear water, sewer, and stormwater techniques. Dave urged transportation engineers and public well being professionals to resume that connection.

Dave additionally identified how we don’t at the moment deal with site visitors crashes in the identical method as different public well being emergencies. For instance, if the general public well being division discovers listeria on meat within the grocery store, it removes it. To place site visitors calming on the road, it’d require a legislation, public hearings, group buy-in, or extra. In Dave’s phrases we don’t maintain a public listening to on “How do you are feeling about listeria? Ought to now we have that in our deli meat?”

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Nondrivers are Altering the Transportation Dialog https://healthsynonym.com/nondrivers-are-altering-the-transportation-dialog/ Sat, 23 Nov 2024 19:00:21 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/nondrivers-are-changing-the-transportation-conversation/ Read More "Nondrivers are Altering the Transportation Dialog"]]>

We’re so usually instructed that no person walks, no person bikes, or no person takes the bus, however we all know that 30% of the inhabitants doesn’t drive. Utilizing the framing of “nondrivers” is inclusive of all individuals who don’t personal a automotive. It consists of older adults, disabled folks, folks experiencing homelessness, children, and extra. All collectively there are such a lot of of us, and collectively we’re a lot stronger. In her new e-book, When Driving Is Not an Possibility Steering Away from Automobile Dependency, Anna Zivarts encourages us to empower these with the least decisions and guarantee their tales lead.

We have been joined in dialog by Gabe Cazares, Govt Director of LINK Houston and Laura Saltzman, Senior Coverage Analyst at Entry Residing.

Some Massive Takeaways:

Transportation not recreation

Energetic transportation too usually begins with a give attention to folks biking or operating recreationally.  However when you lean into the coalitions to broaden the dialog you create higher and extra inclusive advocacy. YES, folks biking recreationally want protected bike lanes, but in addition individuals who bike as their predominant mode of transportation want protected bike lanes. Sidewalks profit leisure runners, but it surely additionally advantages folks utilizing mobility gadgets and fogeys utilizing strollers. Once we lead with recreation, it fosters a notion that sidewalks usually are not obligatory, simply an amenity, or ok for match lively folks.  As an alternative, let’s lead with transportation for each day wants, for everybody..

Altering the default mode on spending

We at all times hear there may be not sufficient cash for the infrastructure we want. But legislatures routinely give you the funds that help driving and roadway growth. When transportation advocates lean in to know the wants of incapacity advocates and amplify their voices, it makes a stronger coalition to alter that default mode of pondering.

Amplify incapacity advocates – however don’t tokenize!

Main with voices of the disabled issues, however really make the area for management. In a dialog the place drivers are prioritized, it’s critical that we’ve folks within the room who’re visibly nondrivers and have their voices heard. It’s laborious to disregard the individual truly within the room. It’s about framing the dialog to incorporate all of us and being intentional about making a platform that amplifies the precise considerations and priorities of these presently excluded

Bear in mind it’s not simply cities! 

Even in tremendous rural areas there are a lot of nondrivers. If the choice makers start to see the quantity of nondrivers of their place, it opens the door to insurance policies that embrace nondrivers and drivers. The Week With out Driving framing can attain individuals who aren’t at all times prepared to simply accept that not everybody drives.

Right here’s what you are able to do:

The Week With out Driving was created to embolden elected officers and transportation resolution makers to expertise the world of nondrivers. We’re difficult all elected officers to take at the least one journey with out utilizing a private automobile. Creating allies in management is the aim! 

Even when they don’t participate, having conversations with elected officers in regards to the Week With out Driving introduces the concept consciousness of nondrivers is vital.  That alone is successful. Use the week to share transportation tales, participate in neighborhood dialog, and amplify your and others’ experiences on social media and information protection.

If you happen to’d like to seek out native organizations who’re concerned within the Week With out Driving, try our listing of native and regional companions, and should you don’t see somebody in your space, try these templates and trainings to get began internet hosting the problem close to you!

Take a look at the complete recording of the webinar:

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Grassroots Youth Group Takes On Walkability https://healthsynonym.com/grassroots-youth-group-takes-on-walkability/ Sat, 23 Nov 2024 14:31:57 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/grassroots-youth-group-takes-on-walkability/ Read More "Grassroots Youth Group Takes On Walkability"]]>

By Kevin Giff

On Saturday, August 10, the Fairview Youth in Motion hosted the fourth-annual Stroll Fairview Day on the Dorothy N. Johnson Group Heart. The Fairview Youth in Motion Program is a paid summer time program for high-school aged youth dwelling in or linked to the Fairview neighborhood in Hillsborough, NC. This system is sponsored by the Fairview Group Watch (FCW), the UNC Meals, Health and Alternative Analysis Collaborative (UNC FFORC), and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (Habitat).

“It’s been extremely rewarding to see how the Fairview Youth in Motion has introduced our neighborhood collectively. The elevated engagement from residents and companions alike reveals that we’re all invested in making Fairview a greater place to dwell,” stated Edith DeJesus-Sanchez, Fairview Youth in Motion Program Coordinator and Fairview resident.”We’re targeted on safer streets, inclusive parks, and vibrant public areas that replicate our neighborhood’s wants and cultures, making Fairview a welcoming place for everybody.”

Greater than 70 residents and native elected officers participated in Stroll Fairview Day, a neighborhood stroll and pop-up artwork demonstration aimed toward making Fairview a more healthy and extra lively place to dwell. Throughout the stroll, Fairview Youth in Motion interns highlighted proposed modifications (from the Activate! Fairview Energetic Residing Plan 2022-2027) that promote wholesome, lively communities, particularly prioritizing actions to create vibrant public locations, extra inclusive parks, and protected streets.

“Hillsborough and Orange County are lucky to have Fairview Youth in Motion interns so engaged locally,” stated Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell. “Stroll Fairview Day is a wonderful alternative to listen to first-hand from these younger leaders about their work to reinforce Fairview and strengthen Hillsborough as a complete.”

Along with Hillsborough Mayor Bell,  City of Hillsborough Mayor Professional Tempore Robb English, Commissioners Matt Hughes and Meaghun Darab, State Consultant Renee Value, Orange County Commissioner Jean Hamilton, and Orange County Colleges Board of Training member Wendy Padilla all attended Stroll Fairview Day. 

In recent times, the Fairview Youth in Motion program has actively partnered with the City of Hillsborough and native nonprofits to make enhancements to the neighborhood, together with implementing site visitors calming measures, upgrading amenities on the Dorothy N. Johnson Group Heart, and putting in inexperienced infrastructure.

Throughout the stroll, the interns shared 5 youth-led proposals for motion, together with: 

  • Vibrant Public Locations: Including a free library and colourful landscaping on the neighborhood middle to create an attractive and protected area.
  • Public Artwork Installations: Creating public artwork to foster a way of place and connection.
  • Leisure Alternatives: Putting in a soccer subject and enhancing amenities at Fairview Park to make the area extra inclusive and welcoming.
  • Site visitors Calming: Slowing down automobiles with a four-way cease signal, chicanes, and a sidewalk on Rainey Ave. to make the world safer for strolling and rolling.
  • Local weather Motion: Cleansing up litter and putting in rain gardens with native vegetation to create a clear setting.

“Our youth are the way forward for Fairview. By involving them in these initiatives, we’re giving them the prospect to hold ahead the goals of previous generations and to form the long run they envision for our neighborhood. Their recent views are very important to the progress we’re making,” DeJesus-Sanchez added.

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Equipping Native Leaders to Battle Divisive Infrastructure https://healthsynonym.com/equipping-native-leaders-to-battle-divisive-infrastructure/ Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:10:13 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/equipping-local-leaders-to-battle-divisive-infrastructure/ Read More "Equipping Native Leaders to Battle Divisive Infrastructure"]]>

Written by Rachel Ellis

Weblog initially posted right here by Sensible Progress America. America Walks is a accomplice of their Group Connector program.

Group Connectors is SGA’s program to assist equip leaders in 15 small and mid-sized communities to restore the harm of divisive infrastructure. A number of weeks in the past, members from all 15 groups gathered in Washington DC to obtain some additional technical help on two challenges that had emerged during the last 18 months of this system: 1) The best way to encourage funding whereas stopping displacement, and a couple of) find out how to interact their communities and construct belief.

 As somebody who was capable of sit in on these conversations for the primary time because the inception of this program final 12 months, I heard a number of highly effective themes ring true in plenty of the conversations. Listed below are my 5 takeaways from the work being finished to date to reconnect 15 communities throughout the U.S:

1. Good initiatives transfer on the velocity of belief

Belief is the muse of all profitable initiatives, and as Nellie Graham and Sam Kling from Equitable Cities (a Group Connectors program accomplice) defined throughout a session on constructing belief, it’s a lot simpler to lose it than acquire it. Belief is constructed via sustained, significant relationships, persistently over time—not simply throughout a singular section in a challenge. 

And due to Charles T. Brown, Founder and CEO of Equitable Cities, I discovered in regards to the various kinds of belief—contractual, communication, competency, and caring belief—and why you want every sort. These function a robust framework for constructing deep relationships with a group. Following via on commitments and exhibiting that you simply’ll do what you say is a strategy to display contractual belief, whereas communication belief is about being open, trustworthy, and clear. Competency belief focuses on having the abilities and information wanted to ship on guarantees and set up credibility, and caring belief demonstrates empathy and a real understanding of others’ views. 

Belief is constructed via small, deliberate actions—one thing all of us discovered via just a few actions in the course of the convening, like having to do a puzzle as a staff however with out utilizing any spoken phrases. 

2. Preserve group engagement genuine and artistic

Genuine, artistic engagement is one other key to constructing belief and fostering a way of shared possession in group initiatives. And what’s extra necessary, it doesn’t must be formal or inflexible. Moderately than seeing engagement as a transactional “check-the-box” exercise, one Group Connectors staff talked about holding group dinners and the way that helps individuals really feel snug and heard. The sort of creativity is important to fostering caring belief, the place individuals know their views are valued.

Nick Buenviaje from Caltrans, a part of the Nationwide Metropolis Group Connectors staff, emphasised that nobody will interact a group higher than the group itself. It’s important to lean on these connections and relationships, not simply to get initiatives finished however to make sure that they mirror the group’s wants and aspirations. Constructing relationships inside a group and alongside exterior companions creates an online of assist that may flip bold concepts right into a actuality.

3. Put money into individuals, not locations

A robust technique for avoiding displacement is to pair investments in important new infrastructure—whether or not a road designed for security, new parks, new housing, or transit methods—with investments within the individuals who stay in these areas.

Your entire group took a tour to study in regards to the eleventh Road Bridge Park in DC, which has allotted extra funding towards workforce improvement, homeownership initiatives, assist for arts and tradition, and small enterprise assist than the precise concrete and metal of the bold new park breaking floor subsequent 12 months. That is one thrilling instance of how a community-centric plan can bolster improvement whereas offering assist for long-time residents. The challenge’s Equitable Growth Plan is a superb blueprint for different communities as a result of it demonstrates how investing in relationships can form a improvement challenge. For extra info, try this brief video outlining the challenge’s seven-step course of in participating native residents.

These sorts of investments in individuals construct stability, guaranteeing that communities profit from enhancements with out being displaced, and ship a strong sign that the present residents matter simply as a lot because the shiny new infrastructure.

4. You can not use yesterday’s instruments of exclusion to forestall displacement at the moment

Many city planning practices of the previous, reminiscent of redlining, freeway development, restrictive zoning, and necessary minimal lot sizes had been instruments of exclusion that fueled displacement and systemic inequities. Right this moment, efforts to forestall displacement should actively dismantle these outdated strategies, changing them with inclusive, community-driven methods. Those self same instruments can’t be used to forestall displacement. As an alternative, cities should use instruments like equitable improvement plans, anti-displacement insurance policies, and robust ongoing group engagement to make sure that future development advantages present residents, significantly these most susceptible to displacement. True progress requires a shift in each mindset and method, specializing in fairness and inclusivity.

“Whereas we speak about repairing harm from previous infrastructure initiatives, new investments proceed to create hurt. This duality have to be addressed with each challenge. We should cease repeating the errors of the previous and actively work to forestall future displacement and disruption.” – Chris Mobley, Deputy Director of the Division of Planning and Financial Growth for the Metropolis of Orange Township

4. It’s okay to not have a solution or to say “I don’t know”

One thing that got here as a shock to me was that acknowledging that you simply don’t have all of the solutions can really construct belief inside a group. When leaders or planners admit they don’t know one thing, it exhibits humility and a willingness to study. This fosters stronger relationships, invitations collaboration moderately than imposing top-down choices, and is usually a bridge to discovering the appropriate solutions collectively. It alerts that you simply’re dedicated to a radical, considerate course of alongside the group moderately than dashing into doubtlessly dangerous choices.

All in all, being surrounded by this group of passionate planners, advocates, and metropolis leaders confirmed me that stopping displacement and constructing belief in a group isn’t straightforward, however when finished proper, it may be a vessel for brand spanking new development, alternative, and prosperity. I spotted that rebuilding and reconnecting communities which were divided isn’t nearly repairing bodily harm—it’s about addressing racial and social inequities which have lengthy been embedded in our methods. That course of takes time and persistence, and the willingness of each single particular person within the cohort to maintain exhibiting up, even when progress feels sluggish, was probably the most highly effective takeaways of all.

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Transportation in 2025 – Webinar https://healthsynonym.com/transportation-in-2025-webinar/ Sat, 23 Nov 2024 05:48:52 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/transportation-in-2025-webinar/ Read More "Transportation in 2025 – Webinar"]]>

Graph paper background with bus and bike graphics and a cute little traffic jam. The webinar announcement is for Transportation in 2025 - A Look Ahead live on Wednesday, December 11th at 2:00 PM ET.

What modifications might we see in transportation priorities?

Election Day 2024 units the stage for transportation in 2025. We noticed each a consequential federal election and a bunch of profitable transportation poll measures on the state and native ranges. What does that imply for subsequent yr – and past? Beth Osborne, Director of Transportation for America, Katherine Garcia, Director of the Sierra Membership’s Clear Transportation for All Marketing campaign, and Hana Creger Affiliate Director of Local weather Fairness with the Greenlining Institute share their observations on the alternatives and challenges for transportation funding and insurance policies within the years to return.

Webinar studying targets: 

  • Put up 2024 elections, perceive the lay of the land for transportation insurance policies and funding on the native, state and federal ranges, with a give attention to lively transportation, security, and local weather
  • How work in 2025 is related to the Federal Transportation reauthorization invoice scheduled for 2026
  • Overview of wins on the state and native ranges
  • Alternatives for progress and fashions that may be adopted elsewhere throughout the nation

Watch Our Earlier Webinar:

Secure Programs Pyramid Webinar

Like all of our webinars, this will likely be recorded and out there after the very fact. However you’ll need to be part of us in real-time if you happen to can for the chance to ask questions of our friends and reside tweet or skeet together with us. (Sure, we are actually on bluesky). You’ll additionally obtain ample sources and extra supplies if you happen to RSVP.

Be part of us: Wednesday, December eleventh

2:00pm – 3:00pm, Japanese

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Walkability Wins Half Thirty-Six https://healthsynonym.com/walkability-wins-half-thirty-six/ Thu, 21 Nov 2024 08:54:55 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/walkability-wins-part-thirty-six/ Read More "Walkability Wins Half Thirty-Six"]]>

A close-up of a person holding a voting ballot with a red, white, and blue 'VOTE' emblem, ready to be placed into a ballot box.

A brand new roundup of Walkability Wins highlighting the 2024 election. This month, we’re showcasing the recognition of the motion by highlighting extra locations throughout the nation who’re reworking mobility and advancing pedestrian-friendly agendas.

Richland County, South Carolina

Richland County voters have decisively supported the continuation of the 1 % gross sales and use tax, initially established in 2012, to fund important transportation infrastructure tasks. This extension will allow the county to lift as much as $4.5 billion over the following 25 years, making certain the completion of present and new transportation tasks, together with enhancements to the general public transit system. This vote permits the county to gather as much as $4.5 billion over the following 25 years, earmarking a considerable portion for The COMET enhancement tasks. This targeted funding underscores the county’s dedication to increasing and enhancing its public transportation system.

San Francisco, California

San Francisco voters have handed Proposition Ok, which completely closes a 2-mile stretch of the town’s Higher Nice Freeway to vehicular visitors from Lincoln approach to Sloat Boulevard. This resolution transforms the roadway right into a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly oceanfront park. Regardless of issues about elevated visitors on different routes, the measure drew vital assist from youthful and progressive voters, alongside endorsements from influential figures like Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman. This initiative goals to foster a safer, extra accessible coastal expertise for all San Franciscans.

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville voters decisively accepted a transformative transit plan with a 65.5% majority, marking a big win. This plan will allow the funding of in depth upgrades to the town’s bus system and sidewalks via a half-cent gross sales tax improve. Because of this, Nashville will change its standing as one of many few massive U.S. metro areas with out devoted transit funding. This funding is a pivotal step in modernizing Nashville’s infrastructure and supporting its progress.

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin County voters have handed a pivotal shift in transportation by approving a gross sales tax levy to fund the formidable LinkUS plan. The LinkUS considerably enhances the area’s connectivity via expanded bus providers, speedy bus traces, and over 500 miles of recent sidewalks and bike paths. This resolution to assist this plan, voted by 57% of voters, marks a historic step towards reworking Columbus right into a extra accessible and interconnected city atmosphere.

Telluride, Colorado

Telluride voters supported a tax improve to safe the way forward for their distinctive, free-to-ride gondola connecting the city with Mountain Village. By passing Measure 3A, this gondola, an important transit hyperlink that reduces visitors and emissions whereas carrying over 3 million passengers yearly, is a trademark of regional accessibility. The accepted funding of $8.2 million yearly will enable the regional transportation authority to be in cost gondola and start saving for its eventual substitute. This monetary dedication ensures that the gondola will proceed to function a important a part of Telluride’s transportation infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and supporting sustainable journey within the area.


To make amends for earlier installments of Walkability Wins, go to our weblog. Have a win? Ship it to us: social@americawalks.org.

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Redefining Security With out Penalties – America Walks https://healthsynonym.com/redefining-security-with-out-penalties-america-walks/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 01:13:08 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/redefining-safety-without-penalties-america-walks/ Read More "Redefining Security With out Penalties – America Walks"]]>

By Ruth Rosas

In a historic step, New York Metropolis has decriminalized jaywalking! This new regulation, handed by the Metropolis Council, addresses long-standing issues over the unfair enforcement of jaywalking legal guidelines, particularly on Black and Latine residents who obtain over 90% of jaywalking tickets.

This shift follows comparable strikes by different states and cities, signaling a broader change to how we take into consideration highway security.

A bustling New York City street with tall buildings, yellow taxis, pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk, and flags lining the sidewalks.

From Shared Streets to Jaywalking

Jaywalking legal guidelines are offered as measures of avenue security by limiting when and the place folks can legally cross the road. The concept is that by controlling pedestrian motion, jaywalking reduces the probability of crashes with automobiles. Nonetheless, the real-world effectiveness, impression and historical past of jaywalking legal guidelines inform a unique story.

Earlier than streets had been dominated and tailored to accommodate automobiles, streets had been vibrant, shared locations the place folks walked, stopped and performed freely. Streets weren’t completely designed for a selected mode of transport, as an alternative they had been a spot the place totally different types of visitors coexisted. With the widespread adoption of cars in the beginning of the 1900s, the variety of folks, particularly amongst susceptible teams just like the aged and youngsters, killed by vehicles elevated considerably. 

A night scene of a busy highway with cars driving on illuminated lanes and a pedestrian crossing the wide road, highlighting the risks of crossing streets in low visibility.

Cars and dashing had been blamed for these tragic deaths. The auto trade noticed this blame as a menace to their development and launched into strategic campaigns that shamed and ridiculed folks for getting in the best way of automobile visitors. 

Jaywalking is born out of the auto trade defending itself from public criticism and framing strolling on the street as a reckless, and even felony, exercise. These campaigns efficiently co-opted two narratives: 1) pedestrians who crossed exterior crosswalks are silly and irresponsible, labeling them “jaywalkers”, and 2) streets had been not shared areas, they’re areas primarily for vehicles the place pedestrians had been anticipated to remain out of until crossing at designated factors. 

Jaywalking legal guidelines promote car-first mentality underneath the guise of security. These deeply held narratives throughout communities make it difficult to advocate for security measures that really maintain all highway customers secure. 

Who Will get Stopped?

Jaywalking has additionally introduced unintended penalties that disproportionately have an effect on marginalized communities. Regardless of a big share of people that have jaywalked often, these legal guidelines are enforced relying on the placement, time and discretion of the regulation enforcement officer. The discretionary nature of jaywalking regulation enforcement results in biases, whether or not intentional or unintentional. Jaywalking serves as a pretext for police stops which have led to the harassment and arrests of primarily younger Black and brown males.

The criminalization of jaywalking disproportionately impacts people who find themselves already susceptible, reminiscent of these with out secure housing and low-income communities. This downside is compounded by lack of avenue design, reminiscent of poorly-marked crosswalks, sidewalks that finish and unsafe driving habits. Due to this, folks cross the place they really feel secure. Penalizing pedestrians ignores the problems that create unsafe strolling situations within the first place.

Three people with umbrellas wait at the edge of a road on a rainy day, surrounded by green tree branches. Cars pass by on the wet street in the background

Whereas jaywalking legal guidelines weren’t meant to disproportionately punish susceptible communities, racial disparities has change into an surprising and troubling facet impact of their enforcement. Addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted method to pedestrian security, moderately than enforcement practices.

Knowledge reveals that cities that prioritize infrastructure for folks and slowing vehicles down obtain better security outcomes. Broad roads, excessive velocity limits and lack of pedestrian infrastructure have made communities much less walkable, much less accessible and extra harmful for everybody. When cities prioritize police enforcement over avenue redesign, they not solely fail to cut back crashes, accidents and fatalities, however additionally they exacerbate current disparities and inequities in communities. 

A New Method To Road Security

New York’s choice displays a rising recognition that security ought to come from addressing the broader points that contribute to harmful streets. Cities like Hoboken, New Jersey, have achieved zero pedestrian fatalities by specializing in avenue redesign used to boost all types of visitors, prioritizing probably the most susceptible highway customers, these strolling and rolling, moderately than police enforcement. By decriminalizing jaywalking, New York Metropolis joins different cities like Denver and Kansas Metropolis, states like Virginia and California, in shifting the narrative from punishment to sensible, infrastructure-based options.

"Two adults walking hand-in-hand with two young children on a sunny pathway, surrounded by greenery and a fence on one side. The girl looks back at the camera, creating a warm family moment."

Although jaywalking legal guidelines have been in place for about 100 years within the U.S. pedestrians are killed every single day by automobiles. Pedestrians will not be killed as a result of they’re jaywalking, they’re killed as a result of their cities and cities lack secure infrastructure, prioritize dashing, distracted driving and the prevalence of SUVs on the highway. 

So decriminalizing is just one step. To completely defend all highway customers, we should put money into people-first avenue design. This implies creating streets with safer crosswalks, decreasing velocity limits, bettering lighting, narrowing roads, pedestrian infrastructure and shifting duty from pedestrians to the constructed setting.

Imagining Streets For Everybody

If we would like safer streets, we have to think about them as locations constructed for everybody. As New York takes this step ahead, we hope that different cities, cities and states will comply with swimsuit, reassessing the function of jaywalking legal guidelines of their communities and start investing in true pedestrian security. 

Decriminalizing jaywalking is a vital step towards reclaiming streets as shared areas the place folks can transfer, stroll, play and thrive with out worry. Decriminalizing jaywalking is greater than a authorized change, it’s a dedication to construct safer, inclusive and accessible streets for everybody.

In the event you’re trying to make a distinction in your group, begin by getting concerned domestically! Throughout the nation, applications like Open Streets and Protected Routes to College give communities the prospect to expertise streets in new methods and help safer public areas. 

One other highly effective motion is advocating to your native authorities for Full Streets and Imaginative and prescient Zero methods, which prioritize infrastructure that slows visitors, enhance pedestrian visibility and work to cut back crashes. For a hands-on, eye-opening expertise, be a part of the Week With out Driving. This initiative lets you join immediately with decision-makers, encouraging them to expertise life in the neighborhood with out a automobile. Connecting with neighbors and native leaders via these actions is a robust method to reshape our streets.

How Can We Assist

In case you are engaged on decriminalizing jaywalking in your city or metropolis, we’re right here to help you! America Walks supplies sources, connections and advocacy methods for constructing safer streets. Attain out to Ruth Rosas at ruth@americawalks.org for steering, instruments or simply to debate your imaginative and prescient. We’d like to be a part of your journey towards creating streets for everybody.

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Safer Automobiles – Webinar https://healthsynonym.com/safer-automobiles-webinar/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 21:36:00 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/safer-vehicles-webinar/ Read More "Safer Automobiles – Webinar"]]>

A child waiting to cross the street. There is a car in the background. The foreground has text that says Safer Vehicles. What Will It Take For Government Action?

What are Safer Automobiles?

Over the previous 15 years, the variety of pedestrians killed by automotive crashes has risen by 80 %. Harmful automobiles are one of many main elements of this rising disaster. Automobiles on the highway maintain getting bigger and bigger and the federal government response to requires safer automobiles has been piecemeal and sporadic. Be part of America Walks and our panelists Amy Cohen (Households for Secure Streets), Kea Wilson (Streetsblog USA), and Jodie Medeiros (Stroll SF) for a dialog on the right way to get authorities in any respect ranges to take motion for safer automobiles. 

Webinar studying targets: 

  • Perceive the impression of auto design on pedestrian security
  • Analyze present governmental insurance policies and gaps in response
  • Develop advocacy methods for coverage change

Watch Our Earlier Webinar:

Secure Programs Pyramid Webinar

Like all of our webinars, this can be recorded and accessible after the very fact. However you’ll wish to be a part of us in real-time if you happen to can for the chance to ask questions of our company and live-tweet together with us. You’ll additionally obtain ample assets and extra supplies if you happen to RSVP.

Be part of us: Wednesday, November thirteenth

2:00pm – 3:00pm, Japanese

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Protected Routes Goes To College https://healthsynonym.com/protected-routes-goes-to-college/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 03:31:54 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/safe-routes-goes-to-school/ Read More "Protected Routes Goes To College"]]>

2017 Walking College Graduate Theresa Vallez-Kelly stands beside her her board presenting the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on behalf of San Mateo County Office of Education
2017 Strolling School Graduate Theresa Vallez-Kelly presents her board on Ruby Bridges Stroll to College Day

By Rachel Cotner

Individuals are seven occasions extra more likely to actively commute as adults once they expertise strolling, biking, or utilizing transit for transportation at a younger age. The 2024 Protected Routes to College Nationwide Convention highlighted for over 400 attendees the significance of exposing our youth to life exterior a automobile. The convention mascot was a duck. They’re nature’s little strolling faculty bus in any case.

The Mayor of Fort Collins, Jeni Arndt, opened us up by highlighting the priorities of the town as gentle, energy, water, then guaranteeing each route is a protected route to highschool. She invited us to expertise Fort Collins, see what we are able to do higher, and provides suggestions. I didn’t take a look at out each route, but it surely was clear that shifting folks exterior of vehicles was a precedence.

Wes Marshall, creator of Loss of life by a Visitors Engineer, was the primary keynote speaker. Be sure to hit up Island Press for a replica of his e book (or a dozen at hand out to your Metropolis). Wes reminded us that we have to take information with a grain of salt. So usually folks stroll away from crashes and don’t report them in any respect. Low greenback worth crashes are much less more likely to be included in information, dooring crashes don’t often also have a class as a result of the automobile wasn’t shifting. 311 has develop into extra prevalent to request infrastructure enhancements, but it surely’s more likely to be utilized in rich white neighborhoods. They complain extra, so that they get extra mounted. The New York State Court docket of Appeals discovered that municipalities could be held liable for his or her harmful streets, however every new yr Sensible Development America’s Harmful By Design report exhibits us that isn’t occurring.

Taking Us To College

Our CDC Partners in Action! Dave Ederer, Epidemiologist and Kaitlin Graff, Health Scientist join Rachel Cotner at the 2024 Safe Routes to School National Conference.
Our CDC Companions in Motion! Dave Ederer, Epidemiologist and Kaitlin Graff, Well being Scientist be a part of Rachel Cotner on the 2024 Protected Routes to College Nationwide Convention.

Each session was filled with modern ways in which colleges, municipalities, and organizations are leveraging their coalitions to create safer locations for folks to stroll and roll. The connection between protected routes to highschool, protected routes for seniors, and protected routes for all was sturdy! We noticed so many examples of fast construct to everlasting installations in locations throughout North America. The message behind these initiatives was to start out small, that larger isn’t at all times higher, and that every new mission is an commercial good or dangerous that would result in a surge of improved strolling and rolling throughout city. 

Advocating for devoted funding was one other theme. Locations that retained earmarked protected routes to highschool or various transportation funds had been very possible to make use of these funds and broaden the community house for nondrivers. It’s additionally very important to get to a degree the place weak highway customers rank over vehicles. Sidewalk upkeep is pricey, however so is avenue upkeep, and we don’t hesitate for a second to try this. Throughput by kind of consumer shouldn’t be thought-about in any respect. “You’ll be able to’t justify a bridge by the variety of folks swimming throughout a river.” – @brentToderian 

When there may be cash out there, don’t go away it to probability. Be ready with good plans and mission lists – an lively modes plan, a pedestrian wants evaluation, a faculty transportation evaluation. Search for out of the field companions. Join state DOT with State parks departments. The Lycra people will at all times present up, however the mother and father of faculty age youngsters are essentially the most various group you’ll be able to deliver to the desk. Who delivers the message is KEY. It’s time to get good. A 20 MPH citywide velocity restrict is sort of a assure that granting organizations will take your metropolis critically if you attain exterior for funding.

What Concerning the Children These Days

Does your metropolis embody youth of their planning course of in any respect? Youth journey is integral to multimodal protected journey. When a brand new plan is written, you’re more likely to see footage of households and children within the graphics, however how are youngsters, youth or colleges included within the plan’s design? Kids have much less expertise navigating site visitors and with navigating the errors that drivers make. Ignoring them within the design of our streets is a lethal mistake. Youth stroll for various causes, at completely different occasions of day, and in several methods than adults, and we lose that in aggregated information.

Talking of information, many native faculties and universities have Geographic Info Techniques (GIS) providers ready on your name. Connecting neighborhood issues with college college students to assist remedy the issues can create modern options to issues that cities have been observing for years. GIS can use census information and map information may also help lay the groundwork for our tales. Generally, you will get an entire staff of metropolis officers to come back on a stroll and expertise a spot. Extra usually, you’ll need to have the ability to inform the story greater than as soon as in a compelling option to individuals who won’t ever see your infrastructure. In a grant utility, for instance. Utilizing information alone isn’t at all times compelling, however combining information with storytelling can take somebody to your home.

When Driving Is Not An Possibility

Anna Zivarts and Rachel Cotner ride the Fort Collins MAX bus rapid transit (BRT) system to return to the event.
Anna Zivarts and Rachel Cotner experience the Fort Collins MAX bus speedy transit (BRT) system to return to the occasion.

Powerhouse, Anna Zivarts, creator of When Driving Is Not An Possibility, closed out the convention along with her keynote presentation. America Walks lately hosted Anna for a webinar to talk on her new e book (out there at Island Press) and her expertise as a low-vision mother or father shifting around the globe along with her child. That is one other glorious e book at hand over to any choice maker in your metropolis! Anna created the Week With out Driving to encourage choice makers and elected officers to expertise what 30% of the inhabitants do day-after-day. In 2023, she introduced it to America Walks to encourage a nationwide viewers to maneuver by way of their locations with out driving. 

Anna spoke on the non-binary nature of driving. Just about everyone seems to be a nondriver in some unspecified time in the future throughout their day even when that’s the stroll from the car parking zone to the automobile. An influence chair consumer may use a automobile that gained’t permit their chair to suit. They will nonetheless drive, however might keep within the automobile till they return house. Some older adults don’t drive at nighttime resulting from points with headlights and evening imaginative and prescient. Of transit riders, Black riders are 3x extra more likely to be nondrivers, and immigrant riders are 7x extra more likely to be nondrivers. Till they’re sufficiently old to drive, 100% of our youth are nondrivers. Even once they attain a authorized age, many younger folks need to have the ability to get round and not using a automobile. Vehicles include funds, taxes, insurance coverage, upkeep and gas prices, and so they shouldn’t be a prerequisite to the liberty to maneuver. As a society, we low cost the mobility of youngsters as a result of it’s a brief standing, however so many seniors are invisible as a result of they’ll’t go away their properties. 

It’s time to personal the truth that our bike and stroll organizations may do a greater job of working with folks exterior of the same old advocacy circles. Go and become involved with incapacity communities, with immigrant communities, and with youth and senior communities. All of us profit from much less vehicles, and from much less quick vehicles, however making a protected bike lane as a right for a way different folks might transfer by way of the house is asking for a type of dangerous commercial conditions I discussed above. Collectively we are able to change the world! 

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Walkability Wins Half Thirty-5 https://healthsynonym.com/walkability-wins-half-thirty-5/ Thu, 17 Oct 2024 19:54:05 +0000 https://healthsynonym.com/walkability-wins-part-thirty-five/ Read More "Walkability Wins Half Thirty-5"]]>

a child holding a leash of a dog walking in the middle of the street with two adults

A brand new roundup of Walkability Wins. This month we’re showcasing the motion by highlighting extra locations throughout the nation who’re reworking mobility and advancing pedestrian-friendly agendas.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Earlier this month, Indianapolis officers adopted a citywide Imaginative and prescient Zero ordinance that commits the consolidated city-county to attain zero deadly or critical accidents on our transportation community by 2035. The ordinance (right here) outlines the institution of a 15-member activity power, the hiring of a full-time Imaginative and prescient Zero administrator, and the event of a Imaginative and prescient Zero motion plan. The proposal loved bipartisan assist by the 25-member Metropolis-County Council and is funded in Mayor Joe Hogsett’s proposed 2025 price range.

Shout out to Well being By Design for this superb Win!

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee’s latest traffic-calming tasks are proving to be successful, lowering rushing and creating safer streets for all. By implementing visitors circles, curb extensions, and guarded bike lanes, the town has seen a marked lower in reckless driving. Knowledge from 14 tasks present much less rushing, with important reductions in extreme rushing—these going greater than 10 mph over the restrict.

Austin, Texas

Imaginative and prescient Zero’s initiative in Austin to boost protected left turns at 100 places has considerably diminished visitors accidents and fatalities, exhibiting a 47% to 72% lower in left-turn associated crashes since 2022. These enhancements are a vital a part of Austin’s broader effort to remove visitors deaths and critical accidents, using small however efficient upgrades like higher signage and sign timing. These interventions not solely diminish particular crash sorts, but additionally broadly improve intersection security.

West Hollywood, California

The California Air Assets Board (CARB) has granted West Hollywood $8.2 million to enhance pedestrian and bike security by eradicating a automobile lane and parking for wider sidewalks and guarded bike lanes. This challenge is designed to scale back transportation emissions and enhance entry to important providers whereas supporting community-led clear mobility efforts in areas most affected by air pollution and historic underinvestment.

New York Metropolis, New York

New York Metropolis is implementing diminished pace limits in 15 crash-prone areas of the Bronx below Sammy’s Legislation, named after a younger crash sufferer. This regulation grants the town authority over pace limits, beforehand managed by the state. Speeds will likely be lowered to twenty and even 10 mph in some zones. Sidewalk extensions are additionally being added to boost pedestrian security.


To atone for earlier installments of Walkability Wins, go to our weblog. Have a win? Ship it to us: social@americawalks.org.

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