[Nfbf-l] FW: PBIC NEWS: PBIC announces inaugural Walk Friendly Communities
Jody W. Ianuzzi
jody at thewhitehats.com
Tue Apr 26 23:14:34 UTC 2011
This is interesting:
PBIC News Brief -- News from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information
Center<http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/newsletter/images/pbic_newsbrief_header.gi
f>
April 26, 2011
PBIC announces inaugural Walk Friendly Communities
CHAPEL HILL, NC - The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is
excited to announce the inaugural round of Walk Friendly Communities
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1553> (WFC). After evaluating applicant
communities in several categories related to walking, including safety,
mobility, access and comfort, PBIC has recognized the following 11
communities for their commitment to improving walkability and pedestrian
safety.
Platinum Level Seattle, Washington
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1560>
Gold Level Ann Arbor, Michigan
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1564>
Arlington, Virginia
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1556>
Hoboken, New Jersey
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1563>
Santa Barbara, California
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1557>
Silver Level Charlottesville, Virginia
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1558>
Decatur, Georgia
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1561>
Bronze Level Austin, Texas
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1559>
Charlotte, North Carolina
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1554>
Flagstaff, Arizona
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1562>
Wilsonville, Oregon
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1555>
"The WFC designation recognizes communities that help set the bar in
fostering and accommodating walking," said Carl Sundstrom, WFC program
manager. "We were pleased with the response we received for the first round
of this new program and are very excited to see communities use this program
to further their pedestrian efforts."
Pedestrian injuries and fatalities remain alarmingly high in the U.S. at the
same time that there is an increasing groundswell of support for active
transportation across the country. Communities are channeling this support
for livability and taking advantage of the many benefits of walking -
improved safety, environmental and personal health, reduced traffic
congestion, enhanced quality of life, and economic rewards.
In an effort not only to recognize but to motivate walk friendly
communities, applicants learn best practices through participating in the
application process. Applicants use a web-based program that asks a
comprehensive set of questions and provides communities with feedback and
ideas for promoting pedestrian safety and activity. The questions examine
engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation and planning.
Officially launched in October 2010, the WFC program is funded by FedEx and
the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.
"The Walk Friendly Communities program empowers communities to make a
long-lasting social impact. It does this by providing the tools for
communities to assess their own walkability and create plans for change,"
said Rose Flenorl, Manager of FedEx Global Citizenship. "Every day, more
than 80,000 FedEx vehicles are on the road, sharing the streets with
pedestrians. FedEx has developed highly advanced safe driving practices over
the past 35 years, but it is not enough. By supporting Walk Friendly
Communities, FedEx helps communities create access to safer, more walkable
roadways. We are proud to be a sponsor of the Walk Friendly Communities
program."
The program will begin accepting applications for its second round on May 1,
2011 with the deadline for submission on June 15, 2011. Interested
communities are encouraged to visit www.walkfriendly.org
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1565> to learn more about the program and
review the community assessment tool.
###
About the WFC Program
The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze to platinum, is
given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to
improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through
comprehensive programs, plans and policies.
At the core of the WFC program is a comprehensive assessment tool that
evaluates community walkability and pedestrian safety through questions
related to engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation
and planning. The assessment tool questions are intended to both evaluate
conditions for walking and provide communities with feedback and ideas for
promoting pedestrian safety and activity.
Modeled after the League of American Bicyclists' "Bicycle Friendly
Communities," WFC distinguishes cities and towns that are leading the way in
walkability. WFC is the first program to highlight communities for their
walkability initiatives and programs, while also offering feedback to assist
communities in improving walkability.
About PBIC
Since its inception in 1999, PBIC's mission has been to improve the quality
of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as
a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and
Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of
Transportation Federal Highway Administration.
About the FHWA Bicycle & Pedestrian Program
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program of the Federal Highway Administration
promotes bicycle and pedestrian transportation use, safety, and
accessibility. The FHWA Bicycle & Pedestrian Program issues guidance and is
responsible for overseeing that States and other agencies understand and
meet legislative requirements.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a
broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With
annual revenues of $38 billion, the company offers integrated business
applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed
collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among
the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than
290,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety,
the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their
customers and communities.
Media Contacts:
PBIC: Katy Jones, 919.843.7007 (office), 919.883.7848 (cell)
jones at hsrc.unc.edu <mailto:jones at hsrc.unc.edu>
FedEx: Deborah Willig, 901.508.4377 (cell) deborah.willig at fedex.com
<mailto:deborah.willig at fedex.com>
FHWA: Kelly Hanahan, 202.366.0877 (office) kelly.hanahan at dot.gov
<mailto:kelly.hanahan at dot.gov>
________________________________
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<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
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Since its inception in 1999, PBIC's mission has been to improve the quality
of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as
a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and
Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of
Transportation Federal Highway Administration.
________________________________
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Campus Box 3430
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3430
Phone: 1.888.823.3977
Fax: 919.962.8710
www.walkinginfo.org
<http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ss/users/link.php?UserID=344693&Newsletter=15
0&List=8&LinkType=Send&LinkID=1264>
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