Thursday, September 2, 2010

Pedestrian Crossing

Photo by: QwkDrw
Location: Moreton-In-Marsh (nearby the Cotswolds), UK
Others
have also appreciated similar 'Great Signs'.

Safe Form and Function
(Excerpt) "In the UK, the country with the safest roads in the world ... there are currently five types of formal pedestrian crossings in use, these being Zebra, Pelican, Puffin, Toucan and Pegasus crossings. The most basic form of crossing is a pedestrian refuge, this is usually in the form of an island in the centre of the road, where pedestrians may wait in relative safety while vehicles pass on either side."
Walking as a Mode of Transportation
A walk can be calming for some people. In my case, the medical virtues of walking for exercise are well known. Suburban seniors and others that can may actually prefer walking as a mode of transportation, when possible.

Walkable Neighborhoods
The real estate market value of an individual housing unit of course has many components. It has been suggested that the three most important things about real estate is only one thing -- location (Often redundantly said 3 times, however.).

List of Elements Common in a Walkable Neighborhood
• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it's a main street or a public space.
• People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
• Mixed income, mixed use: Affordable housing located near businesses.
• Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.
• Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street, parking lots are relegated to the back.
• Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
• Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit.
A Question for Blog Readers
Will American baby boomers (born 1946 - 1964) that are aging-in-place want to see Suburbs Diversify and Transform from sprawling, low density, and automobile-dependent into 'Walkable Neighborhoods'?
See also: Blog Comments Add Value to the Topic

LIFT (Link I Found Today)
The following is simply the last segment to read at the end of this post and may or may not be in any way appropriate or relevant to anything ...
Next post scheduled 9.16.10, "Mixed Land Uses"

..