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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Down To Earth

10 Reason To Be Nice To Pedestrians In 2011

As if you needed a reason not to be nice in year past. However, this is a fun list and I like that it mentions Safe Routes To School, a program that enables community leaders, schools and parents across the country to improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to safely  walk and bike to school.






















This list comes from Anthony Flint at the Boston Globe. And yeah, don't dress like her.

1. If you're driving, you'll soon be one. Think of how deferential you are in the parking lot outside Target. You know that as soon as you park the car, you're going to be in their shoes, trying to cross or deposit a shopping cart.

2. Some very famous crosswalks are being honored with historic designation -- the one used by the Beatles for the cover of Abbey Road (28 IF? No socks for Paul).

3. Because our children deserve Safe Routes to School.

4. Walking (and biking, and roller-blading) consumes no fossil fuels and discharges no carbon emissions to worsen global warming.

5. A well-functioning city depends on it -- and will spur good urban design to make for more livable, walkable urban environments everywhere (see No. 4).

6. It's refreshingly human to make eye contact from behind the wheel and usher someone across. When's the last time you gave someone the finger out walking? (Present company excepted).

7. Good behavior will slow the explosion of speed bumps, speed humps, flashing lights and bright yellow warning signs that constitute such a form of streetscape blight. It might even inspire a few more woonerfs.

8. In Massachusetts, it's the law -- motorists must yield to pedestrians in unsignaled crosswalks.

9. Anyone out braving the elements deserves accomodation.

10. It's Christmas. In pedestrian-motorist relations, it can be year round.



Down To Earth

The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.