February 23, 2007
I read a lot of different reports and articles on walkability. I’ve seen lots of presentations from fantastic speakers on the connections between the obesity epidemic and our built environment, including by Richard Jackson, the former California Health Officer. I’ve seen him speak before, and I love how he just lays everything on the line and does not hold back for political correctness. A recent speech he gave at the New Schools Better Neighborhoods symposium was particularly haunting to me. Here are just a few examples of what he said:
In 1993–94, 6–8 percent of Californians had diabetes. By 1999 8–10 percent had diabetes, and by 2001 the rate was over 10 percent. If you walk down the street in Los Angeles, one person in ten has a disease that will cost them their retinas, their kidneys, and eventually their lives. When I was a young doctor, the fifth most common reason for people needing donated kidneys was diabetes. It’s now far and away the number-one reason. The average 11-year-old in America is 11 pounds heavier than in 1980.
I did this presentation for Governor Schwarzenegger’s office, and when I interviewed for the job they asked me what my priorities would be. The first was preparedness, the second would be the obesity epidemic, the third would be the need for a Department of Public Health—and I am delighted that Los Angeles has taken that lead, which has an excellent health officer in Dr. Fielding.
The governor’s folks said, “Obesity? Why are you so concerned about this?�
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October 10, 2006
Seventy percent of people will be either temporarily or permanently disabled in their lifetime. That is a very strong point to consider whenever you design or plan a project. Sure, in the United States we have the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that provides guidelines to design for disabled pedestrians. In reality, the accessibility guidelines are very weak in some aspects. Plus, just because they are there doesn’t mean that designers necessarily design the facilities correctly. Take a look at the photo above, for instance. Shirley, the wonderful volunteer pictured, could not reach the pedestrian push button from her wheelchair at a traffic signal. If no one else was around, how on earth could she cross a busy street safely? Chances are very high that you as the reader of this article will experience the same situation at some point in your lifetime.
Another dubious example is pictured below. Shirley was not able to use the sidewalk because it was in such poor condition and had telephone polls and wires in the middle of it. She was forced to use the bike lane to continue down the street. This was a scary experience for her considering some cars were going over 60 miles per hour (mph) when the speed limit was 35mph (Note that cars were parked in the bike lane as well). These photos were taken along Hurley Way in Arden Arcade in the unincorporated part of Sacramento County. Really, these photos could be taken in any town USA. I would imagine that conditions are more hostile than here in most places. Remember, there is quite a large percentage of the population that have mobility issues. Yet, these individuals still want and need to get around and sometimes do not have access to a motor vehicle. If you come across a project where your expertise on this matter is needed, and you do not feel comfortable with your own judgment, please find an expert to consult with. A simple issue such as the height of a pushbutton on a utility pole could adversely affect the lives of many.
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