Fewer kids are walking to school these days. This piece from the American Society of Landscape Architects' Land Online wonders what landscape architects can do to reverse the trend.
"Granted, it's more risky for today's kids to walk than it was for me and my generation, and many parents don't favor their kids walking. Some of the reasons have to do with the physical structure of the suburbs where most American families live. Many of the newer 'burbs don't have sidewalks, and road crossings are wider and traffic faster than they used to be. Then there is the fear lodged at the back of every parent's mind that his or her child could be snatched up by a predator."
"Solutions do exist. One organization, Safe Routes to School (www.saferoutesinfo.org), has developed a structured program to show communities how to plan and build safe routes to school (or identify and map existing routes), encourage kids to travel in groups, and train them to avoid strangers. Federal transportation legislation devoted $612 million for the National Safe Routes to School Program from 2005 through 2009. With these institutions and incentives, what are landscape architects doing to implement Safe Routes to School and similar initiatives in school districts where walking is feasible?"
FULL STORY: Land Matters
Why Kids Can't and Won't Walk to School in Laguna Beach
Getting kids to walk to school has been a nationwide campaign for years. But some places say it's just not safe. Some urban forms -- like that of Laguna Beach, California -- prove it.
Index Measures Impact of Heat on Pedestrian Activity
When heat and humidity are high, people are more likely to opt for cars when possible.
Cincinnati School District Shifts Students to Public Transit to Cut Costs
Over 10,000 Cincinnati Public Schools students already use public buses for school transportation each year.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie