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Safe Routes to School
There is a growing national
and international movement towards
encouraging children to walk
and bicycle to school.
Schools are a logical focal
point for creating safe, healthy,
physically active communities.
While current conditions indicate
the majority of children are
being bused and driven to
school, changes in the physical
environment (including sidewalks,
crossings and traffic calming
of school zones) can be combined
with encouragement programs
to facilitate a return to safe
routes to school.
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The Healthy Infrastructure Symposium -
March 18, 2005
State University of New York at Albany – Department of Geography and Planning
Overview:
This one-day symposium will identify and propose solutions to key issues that will support an improved built environment for physical activity in New York State. The emphasis will be on infrastructure for walking, bicycling and trails – and overcoming obstacles to the implementation of these facilities.
Format:
A series of topics will be identified in advance of the Symposium. Each topic will be an issue of statewide significance, and one to which a proposed solution will have lasting benefits to local communities. For each topic a Leader will be identified, along with a Working Group of individuals interested in the topic. The Working Groups will communicate via email and conference call in advance of the Symposium, and then they will meet and present their recommendations at the March 18 session. Each group is requested to develop their solution as a 3-5 page White Paper. The White Papers will be posted to the iHi website and compiled into a Symposium Proceedings report, which will be distributed to appropriate decision makers.
Working Groups:
1. School Safety Zone Regulations:
In New York State, a “School Safety Zone” is defined by statute as the place where it is unsafe for children to walk or bicycle to school. Children are bused short distances within these zones instead of improving sidewalks, crossings and bikeways. In addition, school site location regulations often discourage investments in schools in walkable communities. What changes should be made to overcome these obstacles to creating Safe Routes to Schools?
2. Health as a Performance Measure of Transportation Planning
Transportation planning measures success in terms of the level of congestion, traffic safety and other well-established values. Should measures of public health, (such as the percentage of people who get recommended levels of daily physical activity, or the amount of people walking and bicycling to work), become benchmark for public works? How would NYSDOT and Metropolitan Planning Organizations implement these into existing ways of measuring transportation systems?
3. Update of the 1997 NYS Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
The current New York State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is in need of an update. Other states have developed revisions and new versions of their plans, and many MPO’s and local communities have developed plans since the NYSDOT document was created. Public awareness of the national physical inactivity epidemic, the need for energy independence, and the continued traffic safety issues would support the need for an update. What form should this process take, and what are the means for getting it done?
4. Signing Bicycle Club Routes on Existing Roadways
Every bicycle club has its favorite rides, tours and century routes, but most of this information is not easily available to the general public. With new signage guidelines, it is possible for local bicycle route systems to be signed and marked in local communities. How can this process be facilitated in a way that addresses liability and maintenance concerns, while at the same time making these routes more visible to the general public as a way of encouraging both transportation and recreation?
5. Main Street Design Guidelines
Oregon and Maryland are two states that have developed Main Street programs to support restoration of town centers that have state highways running through them. Governor Pataki recently announced a new funding program, and NYSDOT and local communities are working on numerous Main Street projects. Preservationists, health, utilities and business groups need to work together to make these projects successful. What guidelines, resources and technical assistance should be made available to encourage these projects?
6. Local Zoning and Planning Solutions to Promote Physical Activity
Simple solutions such as bicycle parking ordinances, sidewalk requirements, developer incentives, mixed use zoning, and other solutions can integrate walking and bicycling into local codes. A new program called “Community Check” is being developed, along with other walkable and bikeable community checklists. How can examples and best practices for these tools be adopted by more communities?
7. Site Plan Guidelines for Senior Housing
Many communities are building senior housing in locations that are dependent on the automobile or bus transport. Unfortunately, this limits the potential for seniors to walk to routine destinations within their communities. Walking has both physical and mental health benefits for seniors. How can guidelines be changed and communicated to communities and developers to encourage more walkable communities for seniors?
8. Health Impact Assessments
Click here for: Resources on Health Impact Assessments
Use of the Public Health in Land Use Planning and Community Design Checklist to assist local public health agencies in their review of applications for new development or redevelopment plans in their communities. It can be used to identify potential health impacts and provide a screening process for improving the quality of decision making. The checklist addresses not only those issues that local public health agencies have regulatory authority over, but also the many public health issues that may arise during development and require policy change of other interventions.
9. Ryan's Law
In New York State, it is all too common for a motorist to kill a pedestrian or bicyclists and not receive punishment appropriate to the harm committed. In a recent case, GE researcher David Ryan was killed by a motorist who was apparently speeding and had a record of prior offences, and there has been talk about a “Ryan’s Law” to toughen legislation against motorists who kill. What should be the content of this proposed legislation?
Version 12-31-04
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For more information contact:
Aaron Bustow
University at Albany
Department of Geography and Planning
1400 Washington Avenue, AS 218
Albany, New York 12222
Telephone (518) 442-4778
ihi@albany.edu
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