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General : Walk Bike Walk
Free Walkability Lecture - Tonight
So, on the heels of Lars Gemzoe and James Howard Kunstler, Dan Burden is coming to Tacoma tonight.
A nationally recognized walking advocate, Dan Burden, will be leading a walkability lecture and discussion on May 12 at the University of Washington Tacoma campus. Burden has 25 years of experience developing best practices for walkable and bikeable communities which focus on the needs of citizens.
On May, 12 at 7 p.m., Burden will share his ideas for making Tacoma more livable. The free 90-minute lecture will provide an overview of the best elements of livable communities, including examples of where effective tools are in place and working.
All are welcome to attend the lecture which will be held at the University of Washington Tacoma in the Carwein Auditorium. For more information, contact Diane Wiatr, Mobility Coordinator, at (253) 591-5380.
Given that a number of you have been to the two previous lectures in the last month – any predictions on what we may hear tonight?
Link | Posted on 12. May 2008, 09:02
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So is anyone filming this one for TV Tacoma as well? It’s great to be able to pick these up after the fact for those of us who are shut ins.
1 | Posted by DavidS | May 12, 03:18 PM
Prediction: “put awnings over the sidewalks so that people will walk on your many rainy days as well as your few dry days”
2 | Posted by altered chords | May 12, 04:55 PM
The lecture will not be filmed by TV Tacoma but it’s a great idea and something we will surely pursue for future events.
Liz
Bike Month Intern
3 | Posted by Liz | May 12, 05:17 PM
I was able to attend this evening and Mr. Burden gave a very interesting lecture. Also, someone was taping it.
4 | Posted by Carla A. Gramlich | May 12, 10:00 PM
Burden’s presentation was the perfect yin to Kunstler’s yang. Or something like that. It was fairly topical as his information is more suited for a full weekend seminar. There was very little on implementation, for example. But, unlike Kunstler, Burden did offer techniques on making communities more walkable in such a way so as to not seem overwhelming.
According to Burden, the largest obstacle in creating walkable communities is getting over our institutional fear of change. We have been enforcing a convoluted set of zoning and building codes for so long, that little of it makes sense to anyone with half a brain – or half a heart (paraphrased).
Also, we need visionary leaders to lead the way because the general public may not understand the issues or want to make the necessary changes. For example, two car lanes can handle as much traffic as four lanes; and what is perceived as a parking problem, more likely is a problem of perception. Were our visionary leaders at the presentation? I noted only one elected government official in attendance.
During the Q&A session that followed, someone brought up the popular myth that marked cross-walks are actually unsafe because they give a “false sense of safety.” Burden gave the background on where the myth came from and promptly debunked it. This was an interesting question because this was the reply I received from the City of Tacoma Streets Department several years ago when I made an inquiry about getting a crosswalk on 21st Street & Commerce to get to UWT. Burden did say that in order to be effective, multi-lane cross walks need more than just stripes on the ground – things like a median island and additional lighting and signage are necessary.
ps- I did see a camera filming(?) in the back of the room, not sure if it was TV12, UWT, or someone else though.
5 | Posted by morgan | May 12, 10:33 PM
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