A massive ad campaign by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Health is encouraging people to take the stairs for their health and the environment.
According to Flora Lichtman of NPR, New York City is embarking on a new public health campaign-- building more steps, and having more people climb them on a regular basis. A long-term study of 11,130 men titled, "Physical Activity and Health Study" showed that men who climbed roughly three to five floors a day reduced their risk of stroke by 29 percent.
Despite these positive health benefits, Lichtman reports, "not everyone can take the steps — there are people with disabilities, or who are carrying packages or pushing strollers." Indeed, the campaign is "part of a bigger movement called 'active design'... The idea is to build an environment that can help us expend energy and use architecture to promote health."
In New York City, all new city buildings must consider and incorporate active design strategies into their plans. Moreover, active design is being implemented in various places around the country. These strategies can be simple as, "planting street trees, putting in a bench, closing off a small piece of street to create a plaza." These small improvements lead to more people walking around and being active.
FULL STORY: One Step To Combat Obesity: Make Stairs More Attractive
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.
Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.
Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
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.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research