F-O-O-T-P-R-I-N-T-S
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Issue #29 Tuesday April 18, 2006
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Footprints is the monthly e-newsletter of Feet First
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All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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1. Walkability Audit in the news
2. Risky Buford Highway in Atlanta is focus of concern
3. State Safe Routes to School Coordinator
4. April 27 Feet First University- Anne Vernez-Moudon:Urban Form, Walking and Eating
5. Healthy Places Act of 2006 introduced
6. Computer pedometer available
7. Article on Role of Built Environments in Obesity in Childhood

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1. Walkability Audit in the news
In early March Feet First was in the News Tribune for conducting a walkability audit along Puyallup’s Wildwood Park Drive. A group of about two dozen including residents and city planners examined what works and what need fixing. Among the suggestions made were curb bulbs, parking cars along both sides of the road, stencilling shared lanes markings for bicycles. A report will be sent to the City Council.
For the article go to:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/5567794p-5009855c.html

2. Risky Buford Highway in Atlanta is focus of concern
USA Today had an article about Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia and how Atlanta PEDS (Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety) is being hired to visit schools, churches and apartments to warn people about the hazards and to tell them about improvements to the road, in particular their efforts to put a median in the center of the highway. The article highlights how the Hispanic and Asian immigrants are at higher risk and have more difficulties being heard by the authorities.
For the article go to:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-04-05-suburban-roads_x.htm

3. State Safe Routes to School Coordinator
The current transportation act SAFETEA-LU requires that each state have a full time Safe Routes to School Coordinator to manage the state program. According to FHWA, 22 states have hired their official SRTS Coordinators, 14 states have an interim contact, and 15 states have not named their coordinators. Washington has an interim contact:
Charlotte Claybrooke
360-705-7302
ClaybrC@wsdot.wa.gov

4. April 27 Feet First University- Anne Vernez-Moudon:Urban Form, Walking and Eating
Don’t miss our next session of Feet First University. Anne Vernez-Moudon, the director of the Urban Form Lab at the University of Washington and a recognized international leader in pedestrian planning and design will describe the significant links between a community’s eatability and walkability. Thursday, April 27 5pm at the Vance Building 6th Floor conference room 1402 Third Ave, Seattle.

5. Healthy Places Act of 2006 introduced
Senator Barack Obama, along with Senators Durbin, Clinton and Kerry on April 4 introduced S. 2506: A bill to require Federal agencies to support health impact assessments and take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality of communities, and for other purposes. The act focusses on the built environment, homes, schools, workplaces, parks, business areas and transportation. They note that these places influence health, and improvements could lead to more physical activity, reduction in injuries, less reliance on personal automobiles so better air qualtiy, better access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and green homes and building which reduce energy consumption.
The bill establishes health impact assessment programs, grant programs, especially for reducing disparities, and accelerates research on the relationship between the environment and health.
For the full text go to
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c109query.html

6. Computer pedometer available
There are tools online now that use Google’s technology to help you plot a walking route and calculate the distance, as well as calories burned.
Go to:
http://walkingguide.mapmyrun.com/

7. Article on Role of Built Environments in Obesity in Childhood
There is an article available by Sallis and Gantz that describes research into links between the built environment and physical activity, and the beginning research into the link with obesity, and links between the nutrition environment and obesity.
For the article go to:
http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2826/information_show.htm?doc_id=355433

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Feet First
Email: info@feetfirst.info
Tel: (206) 652-2310
Address: 1402 3rd Avenue, Suite 1121, Seattle, WA 98101
Web site: www.feetfirst.info
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