News

News Archive : 2009 : December

Columbia Ranked Safest City in Missouri for Preventable Pedestrian Deaths

December 31, 2009

Congratulations to Ian Thomas, America Walks Board Member, and The PedNet Coalition, America Walks Organizational Member – your efforts in Columbia, MO, have ranked you among the safest communities in the nation for pedestrians! But the country as a whole scored poorly with dangerously-designed streets responsible for more than 5,000 preventable deaths every year.  Read more >

Pedestrian Safety in Portland Grows Thanks to Partnerships

December 10, 2009

One May morning just before lunchtime, I found myself sitting in a police squad car watching a woman in red do laps across a marked intersection.  Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Sharon White always likes to wear bright colors for pedestrian enforcement actions to help drivers see her.  Oftentimes drivers stop to allow Sharon to cross 82nd Ave, one of the less safe corridors for walking in Portland.  When drivers don’t yield for Sharon, they find themselves quickly pursued by a member of Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division.  Enforcement missions like these aren’t about writing tickets, acting Captain Bryan Parman will tell you.  “It’s about teachable moments.”  Read more >