News

News Archive : 2009 : August

New Study Shows Walkable Homes Are Worth More

August 27, 2009

From CEOs for Cities: Though housing values are still slow to rebound from the collapse of the real estate market, a new analysis from CEOs for Cities reveals that homes in more walkable neighborhoods are worth more than similar homes in less-walkable neighborhoods, pointing to a bright spot in the residential real estate market. Read more >

Oregon Congressman Introduces Bill to Promote Low-Carbon, Low-Cost Commuting Options

August 25, 2009

From Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s website: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) today [July 21, 2009] introduced the “Green Routes to Work Act of 2009,” which would promote low-carbon transportation options to help commuters save money on gas. The bill provides tax credits for both employers and individuals to use low carbon commuting options. This will help reduce our dependence on oil and output of global warming pollution by encouraging active and environmentally friendly methods of commuting like biking, carpooling, walking, riding public transit, and telecommuting. Read more >

Walk!

August 16, 2009

America Walks served as a resource for this new multimedia music video by Tuber Creations. Set to the song Walk by Chemystry Set, this 2-minute video takes a look at how the diminished role of walking in industrialized societies stands in direct cause and effect relationship to our oil addiction and associated issues like global warming, peak oil, pollution, and public health.
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Worldwide, Urbanites Healthier than Suburbanites

August 6, 2009

According to a San Diego State University study published in June’s American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the single biggest factor influencing physical activity around the world is accessibility to sidewalks. The study, headed by America Walks’ Advisory Committee member James F. Sallis, Ph.D., looked at data from 11,541 survey participants in 11 countries, including the United States, found that those who live in an urban neighborhood are twice as likely to be physically active as those in the suburbs. Click here to download the full text of the study.

CDC and Public Health Community Lines Up Behind Complete Streets

August 4, 2009

From Barbara McCann, on July 29th, 2009:  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that communities adopt complete streets policies in their fight against obesity. The development is one in a new flurry of study results, meetings, and reports from the public health community are pointing the way toward complete streets policies as an important tool in the fight against the obesity crisis.
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