Comments on: Want to Slim Down L.A.’s Children? Plan Streets for Less Cars http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jessica http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-149041 Jessica Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:08:01 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-149041 Ubrayj02 - I've been learning about legislation adopted in 2008 AB 321. This allows cities to voluntarily adopt this policy which will extend school zones by 1,000 ft and restrict speed limits to 15mph - when they are usually 25mph. This is a great thing to look at for the City of LA. There are certain qualifying factors for the school - on what is defined as a residential street and existing speeds no more than 30mph. I'm learning more about this policy - it seems like a great idea for cities to consider/adopt where it's possible Also - what about if your community formed a neighborhood Safe Routes to Schools Task Force? Consisting of parents, students, community members, public health professionals, Law enforcement, principal of the school - this has been effective in other communities in developing strategies. There are cities here in So Cal that have been able to address improving the bike/ped safety and connections around their school - as I learn more how they did it, will pass along. Ubrayj02 – I’ve been learning about legislation adopted in 2008 AB 321. This allows cities to voluntarily adopt this policy which will extend school zones by 1,000 ft and restrict speed limits to 15mph – when they are usually 25mph. This is a great thing to look at for the City of LA. There are certain qualifying factors for the school – on what is defined as a residential street and existing speeds no more than 30mph. I’m learning more about this policy – it seems like a great idea for cities to consider/adopt where it’s possible

Also – what about if your community formed a neighborhood Safe Routes to Schools Task Force? Consisting of parents, students, community members, public health professionals, Law enforcement, principal of the school – this has been effective in other communities in developing strategies.

There are cities here in So Cal that have been able to address improving the bike/ped safety and connections around their school – as I learn more how they did it, will pass along.

]]> By: SharpBkr http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148411 SharpBkr Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:06:00 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148411 I wonder if wide spread use of bicycle boulevards would help the situation? I know that shared lane markings alone won't do it. http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/05/bike-boulevards-the-slo-solution/ John I wonder if wide spread use of bicycle boulevards would help the
situation? I know that shared lane markings alone won’t do it.

http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/05/bike-boulevards-the-slo-solution/

John

]]> By: Umberto Brayj http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148401 Umberto Brayj Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:03:27 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148401 Jessica, The streets next to Lincoln Park in Lincoln Heights, and around Lincoln High School are atrocious for pedestrians. What can I do to slow down car traffic, improve the sidewalks, and make the area safer? Halp. -ubrayj02 p.s. Along with high ashtma rates, we also suffer from a lot of childhood obesity problems in this area. Jessica,

The streets next to Lincoln Park in Lincoln Heights, and around Lincoln High School are atrocious for pedestrians. What can I do to slow down car traffic, improve the sidewalks, and make the area safer?

Halp.

-ubrayj02

p.s. Along with high ashtma rates, we also suffer from a lot of childhood obesity problems in this area.

]]> By: Jessica http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148281 Jessica Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:01:10 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148281 Great post and comments - it's exciting to read this study. As some of you might know I recently started working for the National Safe Routes to School Partnership - my work is focused on policy at the Regional level (SCAG region) - as well as across the state of CA. The link between public health and mobilty/accessiblity is huge. I'm just getting started in my new role but happy to discuss further and be a resource if I can be - don't hesitate to email at jessica(at)saferoutespartnership.org Great post and comments – it’s exciting to read this study. As some of you might know I recently started working for the National Safe Routes to School Partnership – my work is focused on policy at the Regional level (SCAG region) – as well as across the state of CA. The link between public health and mobilty/accessiblity is huge. I’m just getting started in my new role but happy to discuss further and be a resource if I can be – don’t hesitate to email at jessica(at)saferoutespartnership.org

]]> By: Chewie http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148261 Chewie Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:37:47 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148261 I dunno Gokhan, Mao Zedong was kind of chubby, despite his fierce opposition to capitalism :) You can eliminate traffic near you by moving out to a rural area. But then you probably have to drive everywhere (so ironic). But I guess you could run laps in your yard, or work in the fields, or bike 20 miles to the nearest store to slim down. I dunno Gokhan, Mao Zedong was kind of chubby, despite his fierce opposition to capitalism :)

You can eliminate traffic near you by moving out to a rural area. But then you probably have to drive everywhere (so ironic). But I guess you could run laps in your yard, or work in the fields, or bike 20 miles to the nearest store to slim down.

]]> By: Gokhan http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148171 Gokhan Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:27:23 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148171 I think the biggest problem is the childhood obesity. More educated families tend to provide healthier nutrition to their kids by limiting junk food and drinks and they make sure that they get enough exercise. Walking as opposed to riding a car always helps to stay slim and muscular but diet comes first. You are what you eat. And the foundations of obesity are cast when you are a child. I think walking promotes strong muscles and joints but it wouldn't be enough to burn the excess calories of malnutrition, which leads to childhood obesity and then lifelong obesity and diseas like diabetes and heart diseases. In a way obesity is the disease of the capitalist society, where widespread lack of education and heavy advertisement by junk-food-and-drink companies, combined with the oblivious ways of capitalist living, leads to oblivious ways of food and drink consumption -- only a part of our ill society. I think the biggest problem is the childhood obesity. More educated families tend to provide healthier nutrition to their kids by limiting junk food and drinks and they make sure that they get enough exercise. Walking as opposed to riding a car always helps to stay slim and muscular but diet comes first. You are what you eat. And the foundations of obesity are cast when you are a child. I think walking promotes strong muscles and joints but it wouldn’t be enough to burn the excess calories of malnutrition, which leads to childhood obesity and then lifelong obesity and diseas like diabetes and heart diseases.

In a way obesity is the disease of the capitalist society, where widespread lack of education and heavy advertisement by junk-food-and-drink companies, combined with the oblivious ways of capitalist living, leads to oblivious ways of food and drink consumption — only a part of our ill society.

]]> By: Alec Mitchell http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148131 Alec Mitchell Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:58:45 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148131 Ms. Stephanie: It appears the researchers controlled for a large number of socioeconomic factors, including income, crime rates, asthma, food availability, local greenspace, and household tobacco use. So while it's a reasonable concern, it appears they've treated traffic impact independently and still found a significant correlation. I suspect that some of those other factors may have even larger correlations, but that doesn't discount the significance of the findings. Ms. Stephanie:

It appears the researchers controlled for a large number of socioeconomic factors, including income, crime rates, asthma, food availability, local greenspace, and household tobacco use. So while it’s a reasonable concern, it appears they’ve treated traffic impact independently and still found a significant correlation.

I suspect that some of those other factors may have even larger correlations, but that doesn’t discount the significance of the findings.

]]> By: Gokhan http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148121 Gokhan Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:55:16 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148121 Banning soda machines in schools by Arnold was a good move -- a fringe benefit of having a governor who is a former fitness specialist. Sodas should also be banned at home. Parents who are buying their kids soda drinks are poisioning them with sugar. Banning soda machines in schools by Arnold was a good move — a fringe benefit of having a governor who is a former fitness specialist. Sodas should also be banned at home. Parents who are buying their kids soda drinks are poisioning them with sugar.

]]> By: Damien Newton http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-148051 Damien Newton Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:27:12 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-148051 Ms. Stephanie, Interesting point about income and obesity, that link has already been much discussed in other places but isn't really brought up in this report that I can tell. However, a lot of the argument has to do with incorporating excercise and outdoor time in people's lives. Given the barriers we've created to walking and biking to school, in large part to accommodate auto vehicle travel, it's hard not to notice what we're doing to our kids by building the way we are. Ms. Stephanie,
Interesting point about income and obesity, that link has already been much discussed in other places but isn’t really brought up in this report that I can tell.

However, a lot of the argument has to do with incorporating excercise and outdoor time in people’s lives. Given the barriers we’ve created to walking and biking to school, in large part to accommodate auto vehicle travel, it’s hard not to notice what we’re doing to our kids by building the way we are.

]]> By: Umberto Brayj http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-147971 Umberto Brayj Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:50:55 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-147971 A great post ruined by two comments I don't agree with. A great post ruined by two comments I don’t agree with.

]]> By: Chewie http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-147901 Chewie Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:18:52 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-147901 Cleaner cars seem to be helpful here, since they would contribute less to asthma. It's really frustrating though. It's very hard to get people to walk to anything without mixing land uses, yet that very mixture requires density (also necessary for financially sustainable frequent transit service) which often adds to traffic. Seems like damned if you do, damned if you don't. Why don't we put more speed bumps on residential streets to frustrate cars, and tax gasoline a lot so people buy cleaner cars and/or use cars less? Health of children vs. easy driving. I wonder what will win. Cleaner cars seem to be helpful here, since they would contribute less to asthma. It’s really frustrating though. It’s very hard to get people to walk to anything without mixing land uses, yet that very mixture requires density (also necessary for financially sustainable frequent transit service) which often adds to traffic. Seems like damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Why don’t we put more speed bumps on residential streets to frustrate cars, and tax gasoline a lot so people buy cleaner cars and/or use cars less? Health of children vs. easy driving. I wonder what will win.

]]> By: Ms. Stephanie http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/02/08/want-to-slim-down-l-a-s-children-plan-streets-for-less-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-147871 Ms. Stephanie Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:13:52 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=31921#comment-147871 Seems like somewhat of a specious connection. Did anyone look at the incomes of the families who live near intersections with high traffic volumes versus those who live near intersections with low traffic volumes? I wouldn't be terribly surprised if there was an income difference - i.e., families with lower incomes live near the higher traffic intersections. And as we all know, in our completely f-ed up food economy, it's cheaper to buy the family a bunch of Big Macs than healthy food from the grocery store. Don't get me wrong, as a cyclist myself I'm all about increasing the number of bikes on the street and decreasing traffic volumes, but I feel like the connection in the study may be ignoring other explanations. (Granted, I haven't read the study myself...) Seems like somewhat of a specious connection. Did anyone look at the incomes of the families who live near intersections with high traffic volumes versus those who live near intersections with low traffic volumes? I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if there was an income difference – i.e., families with lower incomes live near the higher traffic intersections. And as we all know, in our completely f-ed up food economy, it’s cheaper to buy the family a bunch of Big Macs than healthy food from the grocery store.

Don’t get me wrong, as a cyclist myself I’m all about increasing the number of bikes on the street and decreasing traffic volumes, but I feel like the connection in the study may be ignoring other explanations. (Granted, I haven’t read the study myself…)

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