In The News – Page 15 – WalkMassachusetts

Imperfect technology, Boston’s ‘chaotic’ streets raise fears of self-driving cars

By WalkMassachusetts | June 22, 2018

Boston Herald: “Imperfect technology, Boston’s ‘chaotic’ streets raise fears of self-driving cars”
By Mary Markos

But keeping them vigilant is another concern, raised by Wendy Landman, executive director of WalkBoston.

“Generally speaking, when you have people in the vehicles who don’t have much to do except watch out for possible problems, you need to make sure people can stay alert and really be on top of things,” Landman said. “It’s hard to pay attention when you’re not doing much.”

The intricate street patterns of Boston aren’t easy to navigate, Landman added.

“Nobody really knows how this is going to work,” she said. “How good will these vehicles be at dealing with the incredibly complicated environment that is Boston streets?”

Posted June 21, 2018

Wicked Local Belmont – Keep our students safe

By WalkMassachusetts | June 11, 2018

Wicked Local Belmont: “Keep our students safe”
Opinion

We are writing to express our concern about student safety in the proposed design for the new Belmont High School. Over the past several months, the School Building Committee has sought input from Belmont residents on the inside design of the building as well as the exterior traffic and parking plans. The Building Committee met with community members, the Traffic Advisory Committee, and the Planning Board as well as Safe Routes to Schools and Walk Boston — organizations that advise communities on how best to design access.

Posted June 7, 2018

Cambridge Day – Divisions made clear, Inman Square plan okayed by City Council to go to Legislature

By WalkMassachusetts | June 5, 2018

Cambridge Day: “Divisions made clear, Inman Square plan okayed by City Council to go to Legislature”
By Marc Levy

In the past three years, Inman Square has seen five pedestrian crashes, 10 bicycles crashes including Phillips’s death, and 50 vehicle crashes, said Wendy Landman, executive director of WalkBoston, a nonprofit founded in 1990 that has worked with Cambridge in Inman Square since 2014.

Posted June 5, 2018

Wicked Local Belmont – A Growth Mindset for the New High School

By WalkMassachusetts | May 22, 2018

Wicked Local Belmont: “A Growth Mindset for the New High School”
By Kate Bowen

Transit: Did you know we charge for school buses, while we provide school parking for free? Did you know that Belmont once plowed sidewalk routes to schools? Facing practices that are at odds with our goals of reducing vehicular traffic, we are responding. We are conducting a town-wide traffic study, applying to the Complete Streets program, learning from experts including WalkBoston and Nelson/Nygaard, and re-examining our policies for buses, parking, and commuter programs. We are learning from peers like Melrose, which plows walking routes to schools:
https://tinyurl.com/MelrosePlows
and safely utilizes on-street drop-off areas. We are learning that, despite our small geography, we need to actively support walking, biking, and public transit to achieve our goals.

Posted May 22, 2018

MassLive – Lincoln Elementary School event in Springfield highlights benefits of sharing the road

By WalkMassachusetts | May 13, 2018

MassLive: “Lincoln Elementary School event in Springfield highlights benefits of sharing the road”
by Elizabeth Roman

A coalition of non-profit and public organizations will host an event to inform the public of the ways in which public roadways can be designed so that everyone can drive, ride, walk, and run equally.

The event will be held at the school on May 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Representatives from Walk Bike Springfield, MLK Family Services, RadSpringfield, Springfield Police Department, PVTA, MassRIDES/Safe Routes to School, the ValleyBike Share program, Mercy Medical Center, Age Friendly Springfield, Public Health Institute of Western Mass, Way Finders, Walk Boston, Springfield Department of Public Health, Springfield Department of Public Works, MassDevelopment, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, will host a series of activities including a complete streets exhibition, an activity fair, a pedestrian safety course and more.

Posted May 13, 2018