A pedestrian perspective.
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WHAT WE’VE LOST
We now take it as a given in our society that cars are king. But when you watch the video from Playing Out, a wonderful and poignant initiative that encourages neighborhoods to open their streets for children’s play, you start to wonder why we tolerate the conditions we live under so meekly.
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INTERFERING WITH TRAFFIC
America Is a Walking Disaster profiles the pedestrian challenges on the US Route 1 corridor in Woodbridge, Virginia, about 25 miles south of downtown Washington, DC
When two men in two separate incidents are struck by cars while crossing the same highway in Northern Virginia, the authorities do the only reasonable thing — issue them both court summonses for “Careless Interference With Traffic.”
What makes this piece relevant for us is the presence of the Potomac Mills discount mega-mall – basically the model for the “Mills”-style developments that are common in the Toronto area (profiled in this Price Tags) and which will arrive here with the construction of Tsawwassen Mills – conceived by Vancouver’s Aquilini Development and Construction, in partnership with Tsawwassen First Nation.
We’ll see how that development responds to a similar dynamic with Highway 17.
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A WALKING REVOLUTION – The Movement Making Americans Happier & Healthier
From 8-80 Cities:
Jay Walljasper describes how the simple act of walking has turned into the key for a new revolution that allows people to feel happier and healthier.
On December 5, 2012 a meeting on the benefits of walking and the importance of physical activity was held at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health in Washington, D.C. More than 100 prominent organizations from diverse fields were part of this important encounter with two common goals: 1) encouraging everyone to walk more; and 2) boosting policies, practices, and investments that will make communities everywhere more walkable.
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