Climate change is happening and it can worsen health. Automobiles, for example, impact the climate by contributing to extreme heat, poor air quality, and health issues like asthma. Extreme weather conditions can damage transportation networks, limiting access to education, employment, or healthcare, and can lead to spikes in gasoline prices. Vulnerable populations—Latinos, low-income communities, the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses—are less able to adapt to or recover from these climate change impacts, increasing their risk for heart disease, diabetes, heat stroke, asthma, stress, anxiety and depression. Clean transportation and healthy community design can ease the negative health impacts of climate change and have the potential to reduce obesity, heart ...
Nearly 9 of 10 teachers wake up, get in cars, and drive solo to Arlington Public Schools every day in Arlington County, Va. (15.4% Latino). This clogs the streets and pollutes the air outside schools. So, with the student and staff populations set to rise in coming years, how could Arlington get its staff and parents to drive less, and instead use healthier transportation options like ride-sharing, walking, biking, and mass transit? They tried "transportation demand management," or TDM. TDM is the opposite of building bigger roads and parking lots. It focuses on helping people use alternatives to driving. "At its most basic level, TDM is a program of information, encouragement and incentives provided by local or regional organizations to help people know about and use all ...
Math often gets a bad rap in schools. But what if students could count bikes and buses, and solve word problems about local bike lanes and bus routes? That is what's happening in Santa Monica, Calif. (18.1% Latino)—elementary students get "Math in My World" booklets with problems involving how people stay active and move around their community, like walking, biking, skating, scootering, and public transit. The booklets launched December 2017 by the city's Safe Routes to School program. "So instead of showing a six-year-old the somewhat-abstract idea that 2+1=3, they learn that Grace has 2 scooters and Sam has 1 scooter and together they have 3," wrote Jack Moreau, a transit official for the City of Santa Monica. All kids benefit of course, but this could help students ...
Public transportation matters for healthy food access. When grocery stores aren't close to home, which is the case in many Latino neighborhoods, people lack access to healthy food-and various other destinations. Public transportation can play a huge role in connecting families in disadvantaged areas to healthy resources to build a culture of health for everyone. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership developed a 2-page fact sheet which identifies inequities in access and provides examples of strategies for transit agencies to connect neighborhoods and grocery stores. Safe Routes also developed a fact sheet outlining the role of transit agencies in improving food access. Check out these solutions to help transit agencies create and strengthen the connection between ...
The city of Columbus, Ohio (6% Latino population), unveiled the city's newest bike trail, the Camp Chase Trail, in early August of 2016. The trail connects some of the city’s busiest streets for bikers and will provide much needed access to city streets. “It's a great trail that will absolutely connect the neighborhoods together,” said Chris Haydocy, president of Haydocy Automotive group and Weston Vision, a West Side economic and community development organization. “This trail really cuts across the heart of the West Side. It should have a direct and powerful impact on all these communities.” The trail is a notable development as it reflects the Columbus’ progress on an issue that metro areas across the nation are currently struggling with: transit equity. Cities that ...
The Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded more than $75 million in funds (state and federal) to transit providers that provide services to the state’s veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and those who need assistance getting to work, school, healthcare facilities, and other important destinations. “Independence and quality of life for our state’s public transit users will be enhanced through this funding,” said Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Executive Director James Bass. “We are grateful for the collaboration with our partners around the state who ultimately are helping us provide meaningful transportation solutions for Texans.” Latinos currently make up 38.4% of the total population of Texas. The transit agencies supported by these new ...
America Walks hosted a webinar, "Exploring Local Ballot Initiatives" to advance active transportation projects, showcasing the tools and resources available at the Center for Transportation Excellence. Three professionals talked about the various ways local ballot initiatives can be used to support and develop projects related to active transportation to make America a great place to walk. Watch the webinar here. Copy and Share: .@AmericaWalks Webinar: "Exploring Local Ballot Initiatives" advance active transportation #ActiveSpaces @SaludToday ...
Passing a Complete Streets policy is a great first step for many cities and states address multi-modal transportation issues; however, implementation and enforcement are often difficult. For many years, Florida (24.1% Latino) ranked among the most dangerous states in the nation for pedestrians. In September 2014, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) adopted a Complete Streets policy to help make streets safer-Florida ranked among the most dangerous states in the nation for pedestrians. FDOT then partnered with Smart Growth America's National Complete Streets Coalition program and through their Multimodal Development and Delivery technical assistance process developed an implementation plan for the state. In just over a year after adopting a Complete Streets policy, on ...
Rates of active transportation are a result of a complex set of factors unique to communities and states. Based on the 2016 Alliance Benchmarking Report, the Alliance for Biking and Walking compiled 9 Essential Intersections in Active Transportation. Community Size & Mode Share
Gender & Commuting
Race & Mobility
Age & Safety
Income & Walking/Transit
Infrastructure & Access
Health & Active Commuting
State Policies & Bike/Walk Levels
Economic Development & Biking "Recognizing the connection between access to active transportation and better health outcomes, a growing number of states and cities are setting goals to increase biking and walking — and improve health." Learn more about the "9 Essential ...
