I have noticed that even "New Urbanism" suburbs, and Transit Oriented Development, continue to have the same problems with crossing big streets as pedestrians.  For example, see Rockville Pike in Montgomery County, Maryland.  Tons of large buildings get built around Metro stations, with no special effort made for peds to cross Rockville Pike safely or conveniently. Planners won't build ped crossovers, because people don't like them, and won't build tunnels, because they're not safe.  Safety islands might help in a small way, as would light rail down the center of the large streets.  If the answer is to slow traffic way down, that's bogus, because it inconveniences a great many people and lowers productivity.  And making special concessions to the 1.5% of commuters who bike to work is incommensurate with service needs. 
Marc Brenman
mbrenman001@comcast.net


From: "Sheryl Gross-Glaser" <grossglaser@gmail.com>
To: "TRB Health and Transportation" <h+t--friends@chrispy.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2015 10:05:37 AM
Subject: Re: [H+T--Friends] FW: Announcement Expected by Surgeon General

Suburban side streets are fine, but even with my limited experience of living and visiting the burbs, the main thoroughfares are entirely auto oriented, with wide-fast-moving lanes and intersections that leave no safe times for pedestrians or bikes to cross. 

That goes for  my sister's  community, which has lots of sidewalks, but crossing streets is challenging. It goes for local high schools very near DC, where there are sidewalks and transit buses, but the signals are timed with insufficient time for even young students to cross.

When I lived in a NY suburb for two years, I would walk three blocks out of the way to my local Starbucks (my then two year old liked to share a decaf latte with me) because the intersection of two big streets was so unsafe to cross. (That daughter is now almost done with college, she never got hooked on caffeine, she bikes, and she gripes about Chicago's "backward and slow" transit, compared to NY and DC. I love my transit-savvy kids.) 

When I use the word suburb, I am talking about typical suburbs, not Takoma Park, Evanston, Cambridge, or the like. 

EXPO 2016 in glorious food truck and bookstore heaven
Portland, OR 


On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 12:53 PM, <mbrenman001@comcast.net> wrote:
What makes biking options less attractive in suburbs? 
Marc Brenman


From: "Sheryl Gross-Glaser" <grossglaser@gmail.com>
To: "TRB Health and Transportation" <h+t--friends@chrispy.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2015 9:46:17 AM
Subject: Re: [H+T--Friends] FW: Announcement Expected by Surgeon General


I thought this was the TRB group. Confused.

Yes, it is good to discuss the whole aging aspect of healthy communities and what it takes to make older people feel comfortable to bike and walk. Many live in suburbs where it is not safe to cross major streets and where biking options are not attractive. There is a good bikeshare program in San Jose, I think, where seniors can borrow what are basically cargo tricycles. 

Here's the link again.

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/02/436662737/as-more-adults-pedal-their-biking-injuries-and-deaths-are-spiking-too

EXPO 2016 in glorious food truck and bookstore heaven
Portland, OR 


On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 12:37 PM, John Eberhard <jeberhard2@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks Sheryl. Can you share this with the TRB Health and Transport group. 
Also, there needs to be some review of this issue for those who are fostering aging friendly communities as well as those encouraging older people to bike. Maybe there is a need for some discussion of this at TRB. John

On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 10:06 AM, Sheryl Gross-Glaser <grossglaser@gmail.com> wrote:

EXPO 2016 in glorious food truck and bookstore heaven
Portland, OR 


On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 9:53 AM, John Eberhard <jeberhard2@gmail.com> wrote:
Sheryl. How can I access the NPR information?  John

On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 9:48 AM, Sheryl Gross-Glaser <grossglaser@gmail.com> wrote:
There was a good piece on NPR this morning about the study, the age-related findings, and the types of injuries.

EXPO 2016 in glorious food truck and bookstore heaven
Portland, OR 


On Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 2:34 PM, John Eberhard <jeberhard2@gmail.com> wrote:
Faith I think you should share the study in today's Journal of the American Medical Association that shows an increase in fatalities and injuries of bicyclist over 45. The safety issue needs to be better understood. Please share this this the TRB Health and Transportation group

 

______________________________

Faith Hall

202-366-9055

 

From: Rose, Ken (CDC/ONDIEH/NCCDPHP) [mailto:kfr2@cdc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2015 12:58 PM
To: Rose, Ken (CDC/ONDIEH/NCCDPHP)
Subject: Announcement Expected by Surgeon General
Importance: High

 

 

FYI --  from the National Physical Activity Society

Subject: Announcement Expected by Surgeon General

 

 

 

National Physical Activity Society

 

Get Ready for the

 

Surgeon General's Announcement

 

The long-anticipated call to action from the nation's highest health official is scheduled. Dr. Vivek Murthy said earlier this year that this document will lay out "how city planners, employers, and community leaders can ensure that the places where we live and work promote walking and physical activity while also leveling the playing field so that no one is left behind." 

 

When

 

Wednesday
September 9, 2015
10:00 a.m. EDT

Live webcast from Washington, DC

 

 

This communications plan should help you prepare. This is a live document and will be updated as we get more information. 

If you have questions, contact Pam at NPAS.

 

 

 

NPAS Annual Meeting

October 27-28 in Washington, DC

Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill

preceding the National Walking Summit

 

Registration is open

 

STAY CONNECTED   

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National Physical Activity Society | 1100 Peachtree Street Ste 200 | Atlanta | GA | 30309

 


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John Eberhard PhD
Senior Consultant in Aging and Transportation

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_______________________________________________
H+T--Friends mailing list
H+T--Friends@chrispy.net
https://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/h+t--friends




--
John Eberhard PhD
Senior Consultant in Aging and Transportation

_______________________________________________
H+T--Friends mailing list
H+T--Friends@chrispy.net
https://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/h+t--friends



_______________________________________________
H+T--Friends mailing list
H+T--Friends@chrispy.net
https://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/h+t--friends




--
John Eberhard PhD
Senior Consultant in Aging and Transportation

_______________________________________________
H+T--Friends mailing list
H+T--Friends@chrispy.net
https://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/h+t--friends



_______________________________________________
H+T--Friends mailing list
H+T--Friends@chrispy.net
https://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/h+t--friends


_______________________________________________
H+T--Friends mailing list
H+T--Friends@chrispy.net
https://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/h+t--friends



_______________________________________________
H+T--Friends mailing list
H+T--Friends@chrispy.net
https://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/h+t--friends