There is a failed retail district in downtown Philly that city leaders thought they had an answer for: relocate the NBA arena there. Long story short: Didn’t happen. So now what? City leaders have a second, probably more effective vision for Market St: lots of housing with retail and restaurants. A key challenge: Make the area “safe and attractive.” #Walkable would be nice, too. https://billypenn.com/2025/03/06/jessie-lawrence-planning-market-east/

“The Emerald Brocade”: 20 years ago, a nonprofit created a vision for the Beltline, a 22-mile circle of trails and #parks around downtown Atlanta. It called the vision “the Emerald Necklace,” and the results have been a huge success. Now it’s time, say two who were involved in the first vision, to extended those connected trails and parks to other parts of the city. https://www.ajc.com/opinion/edwards-and-dusenbury-lets-extend-success-of-the-beltline-throughout-atlanta/VRWLJOCK3NGJZL7S54L3IFKV7Q/ #walkable #cycling

#Sidewalks were built for one purpose in the 1800s, then changed mission in the 20th century. They declined in popularity in one period, only to become popular again… along with a new thing, urban trails. At each turn, gov’t played a big role. http://www.fromthegovt.com/sidewalks-and-trails/ #walkable

Denver Mayor Johnston says he is committed to reducing the impact of cars on his city and increasing the share of trips made on foot, by bike and on #transit. So, why does it feel to some like the city is backsliding? Maybe because they depend too much on gov’t for leadership. Shouldn’t there be a role here for BIDs and neighborhood groups to advocate for #walkable streets and organize car-free events? https://denverite.com/2025/03/04/denver-transit-bikes-pedestrians-vision-zero-amy-ford-2025/

MA has a law requiring #suburbs to plan for and permit multifamily #housing near commuter-rail stations. Studies show this would be good for the region AND for the communities. Just one thing: Local voters aren’t buying it. What’s the way forward? How about grassroots groups that learn about and advocate for #walkable cities that include … hmm, denser housing near #transit. https://commonwealthbeacon.org/transportation/suburban-commuter-rail-stations-need-more-housing-density-new-report-says/ #density

Why are pedestrian deaths rising in the D.C. area? Not enough traffic enforcement, alcohol, poor street lighting play roles. But a map shows that fatalities are clustered around suburban highways, near places low-income families locate. Until these highways are redesigned for pedestrians and transit, not speeding cars, they’ll be death traps. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/02/23/pedestrian-deaths-dc-region/ #walkable #suburbs

“Building new gas stations now is like building more Blockbusters in the age of Netflix”: It IS puzzling that companies would build gas stations in cities that are working hard to encourage transit-oriented #density, #walkable neighborhoods, #cycling and mixed uses. But should cities ban stations … or let market forces do the work for them? Denver votes … ban. https://denverite.com/2025/02/18/denver-gas-station-construction-law-limits-ban-2025/

The Strong Towns Housing Toolkit drops February 27.

You can also click here to get a sneak peek at the toolkit and take a quiz to see if your city is ready to welcome more housing. If it is, add it to our map of Housing-Ready Cities!

Sneak Peak: https://www.strongtowns.org/housingready

Enjoy the video, and keep doing what you can to build a strong town: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gAqY7yzk10

I definitely walked more in 2 months in France than in 2 years in the USA.

Honestly that the thing I want to do most in France: Just walk everywhere, cause I can.

What is a #walkable city? A new study says it’s the average time it takes to walk to “amenities” (schools, restaurants, shops, etc.) AND the percentage of people in the city who can do so in 15 minutes’ time. Most walkable place in the world? Milan, Italy, where nearly 98% of residents can walk to amenities. Average walk: 6.4 minutes. Cities in North America in the top 50 of walkable cities? Zero. https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/02/07/what-can-the-worlds-most-walkable-cities-teach-other-places

Great video walkthrough from #CityNerd on the safety and environmental improvements in mighty #Hoboken . We are working on very similar strategies here in Charlottesville but they are way ahead. #SafeStreets #VisionZero #CleanWater #Walkable https://youtu.be/gwu1Cf8G9u8

Change requires reaching people’s minds AND emotions. Take pedestrian safety and the dangers posed by speeding cars. You can cite the benefits of a #walkable city and point out the rising numbers of injuries and deaths, but until victims step forward with sympathetic stories of injury and loss, change will be slow. Atlanta may have found a sympathetic victim in Veronica Watts. https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/atlanta-pedestrian-seeks-stiffer-traffic-laws/XYY2WOK7BBGJ5AWY6JM7IKUCZE/

If we’re serious about making streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians, we need ways of “calming” traffic so motorists drive slower and pay greater attention to those on foot and in bike lanes. One way is with “neckdowns” that require drivers to navigate around small obstacles. How are these calming methods going over in S.F.? Well, motorists are irate. So, maybe … mission accomplished. https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/neckdown-street-traffic-20054524.php #walkable #cycling

A professor who wrote the book (literally, THE book) on redesigning #suburbs explains why #walkable #neighborhoods are important to health and human connection. She also explains what makes places walkable (short blocks, lots of sidewalks) and what makes walking dangerous and difficult (suburban highways, cul-de-sacs and efforts to prevent “cut-through” traffic). https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/in-atlanta-urban-sprawl-and-human-sprawl-are-linked/DGC2KGOETRCNBC2AXCJQDHV44E/

If streets were the responsibility of the property owners abutting them, what would they be like? Would they be consistent and safe? Would they be repaired? What about snow removal? If this sounds ridiculous, it describes how sidewalks are built and maintained in most cities, as a responsibility of property owners. This is silly. Also unsafe, ineffective and inefficient. https://www.pghcitypaper.com/news/pennsylvania-law-sticks-property-owners-with-the-bill-for-aging-sidewalks-27337532 #walkable

“Even affluent parts … lack sidewalks”: Atlantans have shown they want #walkable, bikeable streets through surveys, taxes and with their embrace of an urban trail called the Beltline. Yet it remains dangerous to walk or bike in most parts of the city. It is a problem much of America faces: How do we change places built for cars so they can safely accommodate pedestrians and cyclists? https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/reckless-drivers-poor-sidewalks-make-walking-in-atlanta-hazardous/QV2NBNWMP5CNVKRRPUBY4QQ5GI/

“There are rules when you are in our home”: An elected official in an Atlanta suburb makes the case for traffic cameras, which record offenses and mail out tickets. It’s not about the revenue (“I favor traffic cameras even if they lose money”) or to unfairly punish any groups. It’s about pedestrian safety. And they are placed near schools for a reason. https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-traffic-cameras-are-about-safety-period/MX75VNXMAVGWZOYFBIEI2A7N5E/ #walkable

Do Car-Free Zones Hurt Disabled People?

"Disabled people are actually less likely to drive than nondisabled people “and more likely to get around [by] walking and rolling and taking transit.” Car-heavy cities are also disproportionately dangerous for disabled folks: A 2015 study by Georgetown University researchers found that the rate of vehicle-pedestrian deaths among wheelchair users was 36 percent higher than that of the overall population"

https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2024/12/car-free-disability-congestion-walkable-cities/

In the past decade or so, NYC made efforts to make streets and sidewalks safer for pedestrians. For a time, these improvements worked, but now pedestrian injuries and deaths are on the rise again. Possible causes: The size and shape of cars (i.e., SUVs), the number of cars and, now, a new menace, e-bikes. True progress will come only when there are fewer cars in the most #walkable parts of the city and some regulation of e-bikes. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/01/nyregion/walkable-new-york-city-became-deadlier-for-pedestrians-in-2024.html