January 26, 2007
Some of our readers might have guessed by now that I’m not a fan of the Bush Administration’s policies on energy, the environment, transportation – the list goes on and on. Yes, I am admitting that I have an intense political side to me. Those that know me know this all too well. Those that know me also know that I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum, but most of them share one thing in common – they deeply care about the environment and the world that we live in. Most people you’d ask would say the same thing probably, but it’s another to actually practice what you preach. That’s the sense I get (and see) from the Bush Administration, that they don’t practice things that they preach.
Consider this for a second: how different would the US and the world be if Al Gore was appointed President by the Supreme Court? He has done so much for this country and for bringing attention to global warming – and he dropped out of politics. Imagine the influence he would have because, like it or not, when the American President speaks, the world listens.
However terrible this administration has been on these types of policies, I wanted to watch the State of the State Tuesday night to see just what President Bush was going to say with a new Congress in place and in the wake of the post- An Inconvenient Truth world. I have to admit, I was astonished. He spent a lot of the speech talking about investing in alternative energy, reducing foreign oil dependence, raising fuel efficiency standards, using ethanol, and so on (see a transcript of his speech here). He even mentioned that climate change is a serious issue! I was really impressed that he went as far as he did in mentioning these facts. I would have really been blown away if he mentioned walkable neighborhoods, pedestrians, bicyclists, or even transit. Of course, he didn’t, but at least we are starting to make significant progress on the global warming front. I think it took a lot for President Bush to say what he did – we know everyone in his administration has strong oil ties and many in his party disagree with the science of global warming. Of course, it’s going to be hard to argue with scientists after this smoking gun report. >>Continue Reading This Article>>
Read the full article →
December 28, 2005
A survey released by the American Public Transportation System shows expected but still staggering statistics on the mobility for aging Americans. The survey states that 82 percent of Americans age 65 or older worry that they will be stranded and unable to get around when they can no longer drive. Maintaining independence was rated as “extremely important” for 98 percent of the survey’s respondents.
“These findings are dramatic proof that America’s older citizens believe staying mobile is essential and that ‘mobility security’ just like ‘financial security’ and ‘medical security’ needs to be planned for,” said William W. Millar, president of APTA.
More than 70 million people will be 65 years of age or older by 2030. This fact was not lost on the attendees of the White House Conference on Aging a few weeks ago. The resolution to “Ensure that Older Americans Have Transportation Options to Retain Their Mobility and Independence” received the third most votes out of the 73 resolutions presented to the conference. This resolution will be one of the 50 that will be sent to Congress and President Bush with the intent of guiding the national aging policies over the course of the next 10 years.
Mobility for seniors is one of the topics that really gets me fired up. So often I feel that the needs of older Americans are just cast aside in this country, although this is hardly just an American issue. There are so many glaring issues to address on nearly every street – crossing intervals at intersections that are much too short for all persons to safely cross, lack of adequate curb ramps, and dangerous cross slopes.
All people that design or construct pedestrian facilities should try and navigate around in a wheelchair on the sidewalks and streets for several hours (at a minimum) to get a feel for what it is like to have a disability and have to get around. I guarantee that our facilities would be designed at least slightly better after that experience. Even in the most walkable places, navigation for seniors and people with disabilities is extremely difficult. Many walkable places are historic, older places that do not have modern facilities compliant with today’s standards. >>Continue Reading This Article>>
Read the full article →
