The City of Tallahassee, Florida is in its second year of offering awards to recognize local businesses, developers, educational institutions, government agencies, and individuals for creating pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly places in Tallahassee and Leon County. Awards are offered in seven categories. Awards for pedestrian projects and facilities are also offered by the Institute of Transportation Engineers, America Walks, and some state departments of transportation.
Encourage cultural institutions such as museums, restaurants and nightclubs to locate within walking distance of one another.
Museums, art galleries, symphony halls, and theatres create a wonderful level of activity before and after performances and during intermission. Integrating these uses with destination pedestrian facilities and supporting uses such as a restaurant, boutique or coffee house can contribute to the creation of an active and vibrant pedestrian environment.
Enhance the cultural 'feel' of the area and increase the interest of the walking environment by using interpretive signs and brochures to educate visitors and tourists about buildings, history, views, and landmarks that are valuable to the area.
Pedestrian Education
This category addresses ways to improve pedestrian safety, comfort, and destinations through additional knowledge.
Conduct a public education campaign.
Create a speakers bureau to educate people about the benefits of walking and safe walking habits. Use the How-To pages in these guidelines to learn how to set up a speakers bureau.
Through the "safe route to school program" create walking buses and other activities that can be used to educate school children about the preferred route and general safety. Use the How-To pages in these guidelines to learn more about organizing a "Safe Route To School" program.
Participate in regional safety forums similar to the one sponsored by the Pima Association of Governments in Arizona.
Create walking clubs that identify barriers to walking in a neighborhood and explore ways to dissolve those barriers. The barriers may include unreadable bus schedules, proper use of crosswalks, lack of maps or readable signs, and major sidewalk gaps. The International Volksport Walking Organization has clubs in Mesa and Surprise. These clubs organize events that encourage walking.19
Enhance elected official knowledge of pedestrian issues and the need for pedestrian facilities.
Elected officials are one of the pedestrian’s best allies, and community change often starts with one elected official. With their support and understanding, funding for designing and installing safe, comfortable, and destination pedestrian facilities is often quicker and easier to obtain. Educate your elected officials about the importance of facilities for pedestrians by asking them to speak at pedestrian events, featuring them in newsletters about pedestrian concerns, and meeting with them individually.
Resources
MAG Transportation Safety Action Plan
http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/detail.cms?item=2226
Safety Conscious Planning Workshop
http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/detail.cms?item=2845
Train the Trainer Workshop for School Crossing Guards, MAG Safety Forum Reports (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004)
