Happy Halloween, everyone!
I'd like to say I dressed up today, but I'm afraid I overslept and am dressed as just a boring old pedestrian, as usual. Oh, well.
But! I'm looking forward to tonight, when hordes of young (and not-so-young) children descend upon my neighborhood in search of treats. Last year, we had nearly 300 trick or treaters come to our house, so you can see that it's serious business in my neck of the woods.
Everywhere, though, Halloween is a time when it's important to take extra care moving about, whether you're on foot, bike, or car.
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has put together these tips for Halloween safety. Check 'em out! And have a safe weekend!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Measure twice, cut once
Last night, I was walking down Elm Street in Davis Square past the bus stop in front of the Social Security office and Dunkin Donuts. As usual, there was a big crowd of people waiting on and around the bench for a bus. And since it was prime after-work time, there was a lot of car and foot traffic around and about, too.
The sidewalk there is about 8 feet wide, and it's an extremely high-traffic spot. Both the Dunk and the Social Security office have a lot of visitors, the bus stop, especially during rush hour, probably has no fewer than 10 people waiting at any given time, and often 20 or more. And, of course, there are a lot of people walking by on their way to or from engagements in Davis Square.
This sidewalk, I thought to myself as I stepped off the curb and into the street to get around the mass of people waiting for a bus, is insufficient. It's insufficient for any of the uses it sees at rush hour, much less all of them. And it leads to pedestrians stepping out into the street in order to get by, not to mention a lot of frustration and annoyance for all involved.
But what can you do about a sidewalk that's not wide enough? Obviously, taking down the buildings and pushing them back isn't an option. The best bet in this case, actually, is probably a curb extension, which would approximately double the width of the sidewalk and could provide plenty of waiting room for bus riders while clearing the rest of the sidewalk for through foot traffic. This would not lose parking, since the curb would extend into the bus zone, but it would mean that one lane of traffic would be blocked when buses stop to load and unload passengers, which would make it a hard sell.
This got me thinking about the importance of careful and thoughtful design at the beginning of any development. In most cases in urban settings, we're working within the constraints of previous decisions with regards to the built-environment, and that limits what we can do going forward. This will always be true, so it's super important for planners and designers to consider all the uses an area might see. These days, as we look ahead to increasingly costly personal-vehicle use, we know that pedestrian and bike uses of streets will represent more and more of the traffic, especially in dense neighborhoods where that's realistically likely to be a major portion of people's daily trips.
This is one of the reasons that I think the work of WalkBoston is so important. The decisions we make today have a real, immediate, and long-term impact on people, communities and neighborhoods. The fact that I have to step into the street to get through shows a failure in the past to effectively foresee the current uses, and that failure constrains how we can respond now. We're not always going to foresee in an accurate way, but it's incumbent upon us to think carefully about our decisions. At WalkBoston, we daily raise this kind of issue with urban designers and planners to keep all street uses on the table in the planning process.
The sidewalk there is about 8 feet wide, and it's an extremely high-traffic spot. Both the Dunk and the Social Security office have a lot of visitors, the bus stop, especially during rush hour, probably has no fewer than 10 people waiting at any given time, and often 20 or more. And, of course, there are a lot of people walking by on their way to or from engagements in Davis Square.
This sidewalk, I thought to myself as I stepped off the curb and into the street to get around the mass of people waiting for a bus, is insufficient. It's insufficient for any of the uses it sees at rush hour, much less all of them. And it leads to pedestrians stepping out into the street in order to get by, not to mention a lot of frustration and annoyance for all involved.
But what can you do about a sidewalk that's not wide enough? Obviously, taking down the buildings and pushing them back isn't an option. The best bet in this case, actually, is probably a curb extension, which would approximately double the width of the sidewalk and could provide plenty of waiting room for bus riders while clearing the rest of the sidewalk for through foot traffic. This would not lose parking, since the curb would extend into the bus zone, but it would mean that one lane of traffic would be blocked when buses stop to load and unload passengers, which would make it a hard sell.
This got me thinking about the importance of careful and thoughtful design at the beginning of any development. In most cases in urban settings, we're working within the constraints of previous decisions with regards to the built-environment, and that limits what we can do going forward. This will always be true, so it's super important for planners and designers to consider all the uses an area might see. These days, as we look ahead to increasingly costly personal-vehicle use, we know that pedestrian and bike uses of streets will represent more and more of the traffic, especially in dense neighborhoods where that's realistically likely to be a major portion of people's daily trips.
This is one of the reasons that I think the work of WalkBoston is so important. The decisions we make today have a real, immediate, and long-term impact on people, communities and neighborhoods. The fact that I have to step into the street to get through shows a failure in the past to effectively foresee the current uses, and that failure constrains how we can respond now. We're not always going to foresee in an accurate way, but it's incumbent upon us to think carefully about our decisions. At WalkBoston, we daily raise this kind of issue with urban designers and planners to keep all street uses on the table in the planning process.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Presidential Campaigns in Boston Walk: Saturday, November 1, 10:00AM
Hey! Do you have plans this weekend?
Oh, sure, we're all dressing up and handing out candy on Friday, but what are you doing on Saturday morning? How about a walk?
Join us for our Presidential Campaigns in Boston Walk this Saturday morning 10-11:30AM. ($10/members free)
Walk with Clint Richmond, author of "Political Places of Boston," to places where presidential candidates have campaigned with speeches, rallies, and fundraising since 1860. Sites will include the iconic "Cradle of Liberty," the 2004 Convention, and the backrooms of Boston politicking.
Meet at 60 State Street, T-accessible by the Blue and Orange lines, near the State Street Station stop.
Oh, sure, we're all dressing up and handing out candy on Friday, but what are you doing on Saturday morning? How about a walk?
Join us for our Presidential Campaigns in Boston Walk this Saturday morning 10-11:30AM. ($10/members free)
Walk with Clint Richmond, author of "Political Places of Boston," to places where presidential candidates have campaigned with speeches, rallies, and fundraising since 1860. Sites will include the iconic "Cradle of Liberty," the 2004 Convention, and the backrooms of Boston politicking.
Meet at 60 State Street, T-accessible by the Blue and Orange lines, near the State Street Station stop.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Volunteer needed: graphic design for our enews
Here at WalkBoston, we're working on updating the format of our enews, and we could use a couple of hours of help from someone with expertise in graphic design for electronic communications. Is that you? Drop me a note!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Cold weather walking
Now that the weather around Boston is starting to get blustery and cold, I know a lot of people have a more difficult time motivating themselves out the door for a walk.
I know that, for myself, there are a couple of hurdles to get over when I'm thinking about walking in cooler weather. First, if I'm comfortable in my house or office, it's pretty tough to get excited to step out into the cold. If I'm a little chilly, as sometimes happens if I'm sitting still indoors, it's even more difficult to consider going out! The best way for me to encourage myself up and out, in either case, is to think about the good things about getting outside. If the sun's out, even if it's cold, I'll be glad for a hit of bright light. If it's grey, I just focus on feeling good through movement or getting errands done. I must admit, this doesn't always work, so if any of you have other ideas here, I'm all ears.
Once I'm feeling inspired to leave the house, there's the issue of dressing appropriately. In warm weather, all I have to do is put on comfortable shoes and be on my way. In the cooler months, there's the additional step of bundling up. Of course, I can't recommend this enough. Nothing will hamstring my decision to stay active in cold weather like one or two walks that see me arriving home with a case of hypothermia. If I do that in October, you're not going to see me leaving the house voluntarily until April, maybe May. So I'm a big fan of bundling up. I don't care if it makes me look silly (okay, well, I care a little bit, but I get over it) to wear a hat, scarf, gloves, three sweaters, and two pairs of long underpants under my winter coat. I understand this is particularly difficult for people who come from warmer climates. Trust me; having the right clothing for being outdoors makes a big difference in your experience of time spent out and about. SRSLY.
I'm a big believer in structurally encouraging myself to do the things I know I want to do, so I like to make plans to have hot cocoa at a coffee shop that's a pleasant walk from my house, for example, so I'm motivated (i.e., forced) to leave the house, but there's a built-in reward at the end. I mean, a reward beyond the satisfaction of getting up and moving around, which can be hard to get excited about when you're cozy on the comfy couch in the middle of winter, for sure.
I know that, for myself, there are a couple of hurdles to get over when I'm thinking about walking in cooler weather. First, if I'm comfortable in my house or office, it's pretty tough to get excited to step out into the cold. If I'm a little chilly, as sometimes happens if I'm sitting still indoors, it's even more difficult to consider going out! The best way for me to encourage myself up and out, in either case, is to think about the good things about getting outside. If the sun's out, even if it's cold, I'll be glad for a hit of bright light. If it's grey, I just focus on feeling good through movement or getting errands done. I must admit, this doesn't always work, so if any of you have other ideas here, I'm all ears.
Once I'm feeling inspired to leave the house, there's the issue of dressing appropriately. In warm weather, all I have to do is put on comfortable shoes and be on my way. In the cooler months, there's the additional step of bundling up. Of course, I can't recommend this enough. Nothing will hamstring my decision to stay active in cold weather like one or two walks that see me arriving home with a case of hypothermia. If I do that in October, you're not going to see me leaving the house voluntarily until April, maybe May. So I'm a big fan of bundling up. I don't care if it makes me look silly (okay, well, I care a little bit, but I get over it) to wear a hat, scarf, gloves, three sweaters, and two pairs of long underpants under my winter coat. I understand this is particularly difficult for people who come from warmer climates. Trust me; having the right clothing for being outdoors makes a big difference in your experience of time spent out and about. SRSLY.
I'm a big believer in structurally encouraging myself to do the things I know I want to do, so I like to make plans to have hot cocoa at a coffee shop that's a pleasant walk from my house, for example, so I'm motivated (i.e., forced) to leave the house, but there's a built-in reward at the end. I mean, a reward beyond the satisfaction of getting up and moving around, which can be hard to get excited about when you're cozy on the comfy couch in the middle of winter, for sure.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Physical activity guidelines
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released their 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (that link will take you to the summary of their recommendations). In even more summary form: The findings won't surprise anyone. The recommendation is that people should engage in physical activity. Some is better than none and more (quantity, intensity, frequency) is better.
I have a couple of problems with these guidelines:
First, I believe the "some is better than none" message gets obscured by the "more is better" message. I see it as being easy for people to feel discouraged by their perception that they aren't doing enough, and thereby doing even less, because they're never going to reach the recommended amounts of activity, so what's the point? So, let me say: Some is better than none! Get up and walk around the block, or walk to the store, or walk around your house while you're talking on the phone or brushing your teeth or waiting for your spouse to get ready to head out the door. Making small changes to your habits can be an effective way to increase your activity level and make it easier to make larger changes.
Second, the guidelines are, predictably, in a very structured format. I mean, hey, that's what guidelines are, right? But I don't see this as a particularly organic way for people to integrate activity into their lives. I know there are people who look at it as a checklist item with a set-aside time-frame, and that's great, but for the rest of us, hearing that we should be aiming for 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity each week is a little abstract. What does that mean for me?
Finally, this is a great example of how we put our activities in different categories and don't let them blend between each other. Work for 8 hours a day, exercise for 30 minutes a day, sleep for 8 hours, etc. To my thinking, this makes physical activity a chore to be checked off a list rather than a pleasurable component of a good, healthy, happy life.
So, I know the US Department of Health and Human Services can't say something like this, and they might not even agree with it, but my guidelines for physical activity are a little more lax: Get up and move. Make it a habit. Make it a part of your life that doesn't take any serious thought or feel like a chore. Move because it makes you feel good, and it helps you see your neighborhood and your world or because it gives you time to think or not to think. Be active for yourself and for whatever reasons speak to you most. Want to join me for a walk? Let's!
I have a couple of problems with these guidelines:
First, I believe the "some is better than none" message gets obscured by the "more is better" message. I see it as being easy for people to feel discouraged by their perception that they aren't doing enough, and thereby doing even less, because they're never going to reach the recommended amounts of activity, so what's the point? So, let me say: Some is better than none! Get up and walk around the block, or walk to the store, or walk around your house while you're talking on the phone or brushing your teeth or waiting for your spouse to get ready to head out the door. Making small changes to your habits can be an effective way to increase your activity level and make it easier to make larger changes.
Second, the guidelines are, predictably, in a very structured format. I mean, hey, that's what guidelines are, right? But I don't see this as a particularly organic way for people to integrate activity into their lives. I know there are people who look at it as a checklist item with a set-aside time-frame, and that's great, but for the rest of us, hearing that we should be aiming for 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity each week is a little abstract. What does that mean for me?
Finally, this is a great example of how we put our activities in different categories and don't let them blend between each other. Work for 8 hours a day, exercise for 30 minutes a day, sleep for 8 hours, etc. To my thinking, this makes physical activity a chore to be checked off a list rather than a pleasurable component of a good, healthy, happy life.
So, I know the US Department of Health and Human Services can't say something like this, and they might not even agree with it, but my guidelines for physical activity are a little more lax: Get up and move. Make it a habit. Make it a part of your life that doesn't take any serious thought or feel like a chore. Move because it makes you feel good, and it helps you see your neighborhood and your world or because it gives you time to think or not to think. Be active for yourself and for whatever reasons speak to you most. Want to join me for a walk? Let's!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday, October 23: Pedestrianism in Belmont
Next Thursday evening at 7:30, I'll be speaking in Belmont on issues related to walking-friendly neighborhoods and snow clearance.
Join WalkBoston and representatives of other community and government agencies for an evening discussion of benefits of and challenges to walking in and around Belmont.
We'll be in the Belmont Public Library Auditorium at 336 Concord Avenue, Belmont MA.
And, of course, other neighborhoods or organizations that would like to have WalkBoston attend a meeting or event to talk about issues relating to walking, that's one of our favorite things to do!
Join WalkBoston and representatives of other community and government agencies for an evening discussion of benefits of and challenges to walking in and around Belmont.
We'll be in the Belmont Public Library Auditorium at 336 Concord Avenue, Belmont MA.
And, of course, other neighborhoods or organizations that would like to have WalkBoston attend a meeting or event to talk about issues relating to walking, that's one of our favorite things to do!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Franklin Park walk, Thursday, October 16
Join me and others for a wonderful walk around Franklin Park tomorrow evening from 5:30 to 7.
About the walk: Follow trails past unfamiliar parts of Frederick Law Olmsted's renowned park with Christine Poff of the Franklin Park Coalition and with walkers from the Uphams Corner Health Center walking program.
Where to meet: Meet at the Valley Gates parking area on the main park road across from the golf course
How to get there: MBTA - Orange Line to Forest Hills Station, MBTA Bus #16 to Valley Gates
About the walk: Follow trails past unfamiliar parts of Frederick Law Olmsted's renowned park with Christine Poff of the Franklin Park Coalition and with walkers from the Uphams Corner Health Center walking program.
Where to meet: Meet at the Valley Gates parking area on the main park road across from the golf course
How to get there: MBTA - Orange Line to Forest Hills Station, MBTA Bus #16 to Valley Gates
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
International Walk to School Day! Wednesday, October 8
Hey, parents!
Did you know that tomorrow is International Walk to School Day?
How are you going to celebrate it?
Did you know that tomorrow is International Walk to School Day?
How are you going to celebrate it?
Greenway Inauguration in review
I'd like to tell you all about the fabulous activities and events that happened at the Rose Kennedy Greenway Inauguration this Saturday, but I can't, because I spent the whole time at the WalkBoston table, handing out stickers, maps, brochures and talking about the importance of a pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. We had beautiful weather, and loads of people stopped by and shared their stories of pleasures and challenges walking in their various communities.
By the end of the day, we'd handed out so many of our bright orange and green stickers that people from other parts of the Greenway came seeking us out wanting to know what they were all about.
Big thanks to our many volunteers: Georgette, James, Reggie, Karla, and Daniel!
By the end of the day, we'd handed out so many of our bright orange and green stickers that people from other parts of the Greenway came seeking us out wanting to know what they were all about.
Big thanks to our many volunteers: Georgette, James, Reggie, Karla, and Daniel!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Fall walking pleasures
Last night, I was walking home by one of my favorite routes, which takes me past a neighbor's house with a spectacular set of rose bushes, and then, serendipitously, through fall's first pile of dry leaves on the sidewalk.
I don't know what my neighbors do to get the blooms they do, but whatever it is, it's brilliant. Four or five times a year -- June through November -- the six rose bushes in front of their house are loaded with beautiful, wonderfully scented flowers. I love it, and I make it a point to walk by their house when the roses are in bloom so I can stop and smell them.
As fall approaches, another feature I enjoy in my walks is walking through piles of leaves. Now, I know this is an able-bodied pleasure, and the piles of leaves can be an issue for people who are less sure-footed or on crutches or in wheelchairs, and even for me, after a rain, a big pile of leaves represents a real slipping hazard. Still, I take a deep pleasure in wading through a pile of crispy leaves along my way.
I don't know what my neighbors do to get the blooms they do, but whatever it is, it's brilliant. Four or five times a year -- June through November -- the six rose bushes in front of their house are loaded with beautiful, wonderfully scented flowers. I love it, and I make it a point to walk by their house when the roses are in bloom so I can stop and smell them.
As fall approaches, another feature I enjoy in my walks is walking through piles of leaves. Now, I know this is an able-bodied pleasure, and the piles of leaves can be an issue for people who are less sure-footed or on crutches or in wheelchairs, and even for me, after a rain, a big pile of leaves represents a real slipping hazard. Still, I take a deep pleasure in wading through a pile of crispy leaves along my way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
