CommuterPageBlog

Where You Live Influences How Thin You Are

Here's some not-so-surprising news recently posted on USA TODAY's Better Life blog.  According to a study by the Active Living Research Program at San Diego State University, if you live in a neighborhood where you can easily walk to nearby shops, you are likely to be more active and thinner than if you live in a place where you have to drive everywhere! This is true no matter what income level the neighborhood.

Researchers looked at 32 neighborhoods in Seattle and Baltimore, based on income and walkability factors. About 2,200 people, ages 20 to 65, wore accelerometers to track physical activity. Findings indicated that people did 40 to 50 minutes more physical activity per week if they lived in neighborhoods designed for pedestrians. Participants were also less likely to be overweight or obese if they live in places that are walk-friendly.

Meanwhile, the same blog covers an appeal by more than 30 leading fitness and medical groups urging President Obama to promote the importance of physical activity to combat health problems and cost in the U.S. This USA TODAY Better Life blog post notes that even brisk walking can boost weight loss while trimming body fat.

Perhaps the President was doing some research on nearby walk-friendly neighborhoods, if not weight loss, when he and Vice President Biden traveled to Arlington last month for lunch at Ray's Hellburger, smack dab in the middle of the walkable Rosslyn-Courthouse metro corridor. Next time, maybe they'll ditch the limo and walk off their meal afterward!

Lauren Hassel handles outreach and promotions for WALKArlington, part of Arlington County Commuter Services in the Department of Environmental Services.

Yes We Can! Walkers' Final Preparations for Inauguration Day

You've done your homework, figured out your walking route and now it's time to think about what to wear and bring to prepare you for walking long distances, standing for long periods of time, and facing the prevailing weather conditions when you head out on January 20.

Safety and Comfort

First of all, if you don't typically venture out on long walks, take a minute to check out these basic tips for walking safety and comfort from WALKArlington.

Then forget the ball gowns and tuxedos and focus on the layers of clothes, socks, and shoes, and outerwear you plan to sport on January 20. Check out WALKArlington's suggestions on gear as you lay out your wardrobe-and make sure your outer layer also helps you be seen!

Supplies

Of course, you'll need some basic supplies, like food, water, any meds, and hand/toe warmers. On the flipside, you also need to know what NOT to bring. Here is the official list of items that are prohibited in the secure zones for the swearing-in and parade:

• Firearms and ammunition (either real or simulated)
• Explosives of any kind (including fireworks)
• Knives, blades, or sharp objects (of any length)
• Mace and/or pepper spray
• Sticks or poles
• Pocket or hand tools, such as “Leatherman”
• Packages
• Backpacks
• Large bags
• Duffel bags
• Suitcases
• Thermoses
• Coolers
• Strollers
• Umbrellas
• Laser pointers
• Signs
• Posters
• Animals (other than service animals)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Other items that may pose a threat to the security of the event as determined by and at the discretion of the security screeners

If you have younger members of your party, take note that strollers are permitted on the bridges and up to the western portion of the Mall near the Lincoln Memorial but not within the security zone for the swearing-in or parade. There are no facilities for storing strollers or any of the prohibited items. 

Weather Conditions

And two days out, the Weather.com Inaugural weather forecast for Inauguration Day is mostly cloudy with a low of 19 and a high of 31 degrees F. In other words, it's going to be ccccold, so check out these tips on walking in winter.

Rules of the Road/Sidewalk

Last but not least, while walkers will encounter fewer vehicles along their walking routes on January 20, there will be more bicyclists and walkers than you've probably encountered before, so follow the pedestrian rules of the road:

• Cross the street at marked crosswalks
• Before crossing, look left, right, left again
• Use pedestrian pushbuttons where available
• Begin crossing the street on the "Walk" signal
• Walk against traffic on roads with no sidewalks
• Stay to the right and heed stop and yield signs on trails
• Wear bright/reflective clothes to stay visible after dark and in bad weather
• Watch for turning motorists and bicyclists

Two More Resources

As we've been saying all along, Inauguration plans are very fluid. Here are two of the most recent updates to previously mentioned resources. Keep checking CommuterPage.com's Inaugural Page for new information and resources to support your travels, all the way through January 20, 2009!

Paper Trail

Arlington County has updated its resources for getting to DC from five points of origin and now offers these Print and Go Guides from the following spots:

• Pentagon City / Crystal City (Greatly expanded bus service for this area, including direct service into the District)
• Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor (Wilson and Clarendon Blvds.)
• Fairlington/Shirlington
• Columbia Pike
• North Arlington and Lee Highway

Click on this Print and Go Guides link to choose the Guide you need!

On-Line

And if you haven't heard about it yet, get the skinny on Twitter.com, Arlington County Commuter Services' CarFreeJan20 Twitter activity, and the new video that puts it all together.

To sum up, use these resources (plus WALKArlington's Special Inaugural Edition of our e-newsletter) and your common sense to be safe, be seen, and stay warm!

YES YOU CAN!  See you downtown on Tuesday!

Lauren Hassel handles outreach and promotions for WALKArlington, part of Arlington County Commuter Services in the Department of Environmental Services.

Ask What Arlington County Can Do For You

It's come to our attention that some of the Inauguration information being released around the region may be having the unintended consequence of discouraging (even scaring off?) people from attending the festivities. For the record, Arlington County is committed to helping residents and visitors alike make their way to Washington, D.C. on January 20 in a safe and orderly way. To that end, Arlington officials have been coordinating with regional partners across the National Capital area so that the County is ready to welcome participants to all of the upcoming Inaugural events.

The County's stated priorities are ensuring safe participation and access to events. That means walking, biking, or transit!  A transportation plan has been adopted and public transit options have been enhanced. Arlington Transit and Metrobuses in northern Virginia will be FREE on January 20. And to help folks find the bridges on foot or by bicycle, Arlington will be posting yellow directional signs along likely bridge access points, feeder routes, and trails in Arlington. So whether you follow the crowd or follow the signs, you'll make it to a bridge and your final destination!

Get to Your Chosen Bridge

If the yellow directional signs don't appear in your neighborhood, Arlington County's Inauguration Page has put together some great information on getting to those bridges from five different points of origin within the County:

• Pentagon City/Crystal City
• Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor (Wilson/Clarendon Blvd.)
• Columbia Pike
• North Arlington and Lee Hwy.
• Fairlington & Shirlington

And here's one more resource for planning your Arlington-based route is the Washington Area Bicyclists Association bike map to Inaugural events.

Reach the Other Side

Once you've made that successful bridge crossing, the following regional resources will help you plan the rest of your route:

• Washington Post Walking to the Inauguration Guide
• Washington Post Inauguration Central
• Metro Walking Map/Commemorative Inauguration Guide (click on pdf in lower right-hand corner of page)
• Secret Service Transportation Map
• CommuterPage Inauguration Page

Stay Connected En Route

Even after you head out, situations may change, so here are some options for staying informed throughout the day:

• Sign up for Arlington Alert. This free service provides real-time safety information and emergency alerts via e-mail, cell phone, pager, BlackBerry or other wireless PDA. Text "1801" to 411911 or go to www.arlingtonalert.com. 
• Tune to 1700AM Arlington, our 24/7 emergency radio station.
• Sign up for D.C. Alerts for real-time information about road closures, weather and more.
• Try Twitter.  Get real-time transportation information from the CarFreeJan20 Twitter feed. Two interns with Arlington County Commuter Services will be using Twitter, an online community dedicated to giving people real-time updates, on Inauguration Day. So if you want to ensure that your Inauguration Day travel to Washington is as smooth as possible, follow along here on January 20^th. Updates will be aggregated from mainstream media outlets, local alert systems, and 50 Inauguration travelers who will be providing live continuous updates to make it easier for you to get where you're going!

Ask What You Can Do For Arlington County...

In return for helping you make your way to the Inauguration, Arlington County asks only one thing:  As you traverse the country's geographically smallest self-governing county on your way to the Inaugural events, leave the car at home and celebrate this "new birth of freedom" by going car-free! 

Lauren Hassel handles outreach and promotions for WALKArlington, part of Arlington County Commuter Services in the Department of Environmental Services.

Happy Days Are Here Again

More - and happier - information came in over the weekend regarding pedestrian access to Potomac bridges on Inauguration Day.  We knew that the entire Memorial Bridge and sidewalks on Key Bridge would be open to pedestrians on January 20, but the January 8 Secret Service Transportation Plan was unclear on ped access to the Roosevelt and 14th Street bridges. Well, according to the Sunday (January 11) Washington Post's comprehensive "Walking to the Inauguration" guide, security and transportation officials now say that pedestrians will be allowed on all Potomac bridges, with the following specific directives:

• Key Bridge:  Pedestrians allowed on walkways only. The bridge is easily accessed from Rosslyn and has walkways on both sides.

• Roosevelt Bridge: Pedestrians allowed on walkways only. The walkway on the west (westbound for vehicle traffic) side of the bridge is safer and easier to access from the Mount Vernon Trail.

• Memorial Bridge:  Pedestrians allowed on vehicle lanes and walkways.  This is the official pedestrian-only Potomac bridge for the Inauguration (though it will also be open for bicyclists and emergency vehicles). On foot, it's most easily accessed from the Mount Vernon Trail, but if you're coming from the direction of Roosevelt Island, it's easier and safer to follow the Trail UNDER the bridge and loop around to the top of the bridge from there.

• 14th Street Bridge: Pedestrians allowed on walkway only. The bridge has only one walkway, which can be accessed from the Mount Vernon Trail.

This is definitely good news for walkers, but keep in mind that only Memorial Bridge is dedicated to pedestrians. On all other bridges (especially the 14th Street Bridge), pedestrians must keep off the road for safety reasons.

Additional information on Potomac bridge and other access to the Inauguration was released by the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, and the Virginia State Police on Saturday, January 10. Click here to read the release

For what it's worth, I've crossed all but the 14th Street Bridge on foot, whether running, walking, or pushing a stroller, during rush hour and at off-peak times, without incident. Of course the number of pedestrians will be exponentially greater on January 20, and there will also be bicyclists sharing the walkways, so be sure to pay more attention to your fellow travellers than the spectacular views of the Potomac and our nation's capital!

Update on Getting There

A few walkers have asked whether Fort Myer will be open to pedestrians seeking shortcuts through Arlington to the bridges on January 20. According to Fort Myer Public Affairs, the Fort will NOT be open/accessible to the public. Fort Myer is being used as a staging area for the Inauguration and is even restricting access for its own personnel. So, if you're thinking about cutting through Fort Myer or if GoogleMaps is giving you a route that traverses the Fort, think again. But help is on the way...

In the coming days, as Arlington transit plans and other transportation options are finalized, WALKArlington will offer suggestions for getting to these bridges from points north, south, and west of the Potomac. As the weather forecasts come in, WALKArlington will also consolidate tips for walking long distances in potentially inclement conditions. Oh, and we hope to answer that pesky question about whether and where strollers are permitted as well!

Lauren Hassel is Coordinator of Outreach and Promotions for WALKArlington, part of Arlington County Commuter Services in the Department of Environmental Services.

Lauren Hassel is Coordinator of Outreach and Promotions for WALKArlington, part of Arlington County Commuter Services in the Department of Environmental Services.

The Walk on Washington

Back when he was running for President, candidate Barack Obama said, "Everyone benefits if we can leave our cars, and walk, bicycle, and access other transportation alternatives..."  While these words ring true any day of the year, January 20, 2009, is one day when going car-free is not just a choice, but a necessity for those of us in the Washington capital area.

And as the region gears up for Inauguration Day, walking is quickly rising to the top of the short list of preferred "transportation alternatives" for anyone who plans to witness history, whether on the National Mall or along the Inaugural parade route. In fact, Metro recommends walking for people within 2-3 miles of the Capitol because, as we've all heard by now, trains are expected to fill up long before they reach stops within a 2-3 mile radius of the Mall.

Even though the choice may be clear for those of us coming from Arlington and DC, there are still many restrictions and caveats to consider. And things are changing by the day. That's why WALKArlington has been busy trying to keep track of all the Inaugural developments that affect pedestrians.

Baby Steps

With today's release of the Secret Service Security Plan for the Inauguration, we now have a handy Inauguration Transportation Map, which details pedestrian access points along with other much-anticipated logistical information. 

Metro has also put together a Walking Map/Commemorative Inauguration Guide (click on pdf in lower right-hand corner of page) to help walkers make their way from select Metro stops.

Other resources to help pedestrians figure out their options for walking to the Inauguration from Arlington and DC:

• CommuterPage Inauguration Page
• Arlington County Inauguration Page
• Arlington County Link to Google Maps for Walking
• Washington, D.C. 2009 Presidential Inauguration Website (scroll down to Walkable Routes)

Breaking News

Keep in mind that plans for the Inauguration are fluid and may change at any time. As the date approaches, keep checking the following official Inauguration websites for updates: 

• Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
• Washington, D.C. 2009 Presidential Inauguration Website

There are still plenty of unresolved questions, from whether pedestrians will be allowed on 14th Street and Roosevelt Bridge sidepaths to whether strollers will be allowed in the perimeter. Rest assured, WALKArlington will continue to monitor updates that affect pedestrians and share what we learn, so if you're planning on walking to the Inauguration, stay tuned for more!

Lauren Hassel is Coordinator of Outreach and Promotions for WALKArlington, part of Arlington County Commuter Services in the Department of Environmental Services.

Stung at the Pumps? Lace Up Your Walking Shoes

Earlier this week, The Washington Post ran an article entitled "Stung at the Pumps, More Hop on the Bus" about how rising gas prices are paralleling an increase in transit ridership. Take a look at the article, and you'll see that reporters Lena H. Sun and Jonathan Mummolo have done their homework and present the numbers and testimonials to rest their case.

While transit agencies, employers, and commuters begin to adapt to these trends, we need to look beyond the work week to steps that can be undertaken during our non-work hours.  With gas prices just as high on weekends as during the week, recreational transportation habits are ripe for change as well.

So, instead of driving to your recreational destination of choice this weekend, why not take transit, bike or walk? In fact, why not eliminate the middleman and make walking your recreational outing?

It's easier than ever this Sunday, when WALKArlington hosts its spring Walkabout, or guided walking tour, of the Dominion Hills neighborhood. 

The Dominion Hills Walkabout will kick off at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. Led by Arlington County Board Chairman and Dominion Hills resident J. Walter Tejada, the approximately two-mile, two-hour Walkabout will begin and end at Mace Park, at the foot of North Liberty Street between 10th Road North and the Four Mile Run Trail. Speakers will share anecdotes about the neighborhood's unique history, recreational opportunities, and natural features at nine stops along the way, returning to Mace Park for a tree-planting by 5:00 p.m. Click here for a look at a map of the Walkabout route.

On the final stop of the route, walkers will hear about all of the transportation options that have traversed this west Arlington neighborhood over the last 200 years. Most have come and gone, replaced by Metro's Orange line, I-66, and a network of walking and biking trails.

If gas prices continue to rise, perhaps the day when I-66 has come and gone is not so far off. 

In the meantime, lace up your shoes and make tracks to Dominion Hills for Sunday's Walkabout. It takes place rain or shine, is free of charge, and requires neither registration nor gasoline.

Lauren Hassel
WALKArlington

Arlington's View from the Sidewalk

According to "Washington Area's Mean Streets," a report released today by the Coalition for Smarter Growth, Fairfax, Prince George's and Prince William counties are the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the Washington region. The Coalition report finds that Alexandria is the safest for pedestrians, with Arlington ranked second, and the District third.

The thinking goes that these three safer jurisdictions, like others built before World War II, are more pedestrian-friendly than post-war suburban communities, which were designed with the automobile, not the pedestrian, in mind.

That may well be true for Alexandria and the District, but history books show that Arlington remained relatively undeveloped, even rural, right up through the 1930s. The first high school didn't open in Arlington until 1925, and the first real "bedroom community" developments appeared in the late 1930s.

So why didn't Arlington follow the path of other post-war suburban communities?

One reason is certainly the smaller size of Arlington County, particularly when compared to Fairfax, Prince George's, and Prince William Counties. But Arlington is also densely populated and a thoroughfare for commuters getting to and from their homes in the outer suburbs.

The report may have helped answer this question by singling out Arlington as a "leader in pedestrian transportation safety planning, policy, and practice." When combined with the County's comprehensive transit services, Arlington County Commuter Services' education campaigns like the Car-Free Diet, and initiatives like BikeArlington and WALKArlington, Arlington's pedestrian-oriented transportation planning seems to be working, even on the mean streets of the D.C. metro area.

Lauren Hassel
WALKArlington

Sustainable Urbanists Unite!

The 7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference (www.NewPartners.org) takes place this week in Washington, DC. Organized by the Local Government Commission, the conference features "smart growth issues, research, implementation tools and strategies, successful case studies, interactive learning opportunities, new partners, projects, and policies."  The conference is also offering an array of mobile tours of our area, with intriguing themes like "Smart Growth Meets Smart Food," "Revitalizing a Corridor through the Arts," "Arlington's Approach to Affordable Housing in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor," and "Green DC."  The more than 1,300 conference attendees represent a wide range of viewpoints, from planning to local government, non-profits to environmental groups, academia to public health. Oh, and then there was me, representing the "Other" category loosely defined as communications and marketing!

Yesterday, I took in three information-packed sessions. While all were timely and insightful, one in particular called out for action. Following is my attempt to pass along the urgent message that was so compellingly conveyed in the 4-hour training session entitled:  The Emerging Thresholds of Sustainable Urbanism.

This interactive presentation led by Chicago-based architect Douglas Farr and backed up by other smart growth "industry" leaders like Kaid Benfield of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Lynn Richards of EPA, and Dan Burden of Walkable Communities, Inc., introduced the basic tenets of Sustainable Urbanism captured in Mr. Farr's new book, Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature (www.farrside.com).

The newly published book has been described as "a generational call to action and a how-to manual on the techniques of sustainable urbanism." The training session set out to deliver that call to action while defining the evolutions and basic parameters of Sustainable Urbanism.  The result was a witty and engaging delineation of changes in perception and practice required to change patterns of growth over the next generation. Because I cannot begin to capture the ideas, examples, and anecdotes that made the presentation so intriguing, here are three fundamental concepts and information on how to get your own copy of the book!

Definition of Sustainable Urbanism: the integration of walkable, transit-served urbanism with high-performance buildings and infrastructure. 

Emerging Thresholds of Sustainable Urbanism: The design parameters of human and natural systems that support sustainable human settlements, such as development density and configuration required to support transit, the number of dwellings required to support walk-to-retail, and the land area required to refiltrate stormwater.

Goal:  Mount a national campaign to adopt Sustainable Urbanism by 2030.

To help mount this campaign and make this "emerging area of practice" the rule rather than the exception by 2030, order a copy of Sustainable Urbanism Urban Design with Nature by Doug Farr at www.farrside.com and then spread the word.

--Lauren Hassel, WALKArlington

Holiday Traffic Safety

Although the Washington region was ranked first in a national walkability study released by the Brookings Institution earlier this week, we all know that there have been a number of fatal pedestrian accidents in our area over the last year. With this in mind, Arlington County Police Chief Doug Scott issued the following traffic safety message for everyone to heed in these final weeks of 2007 -- and into the new year.

"The holiday season is an extremely busy time of year. Streets are clogged with cars and crosswalks crowded with pedestrians as people rush to complete their shopping. There are holiday parties to attend and family dinners to prepare. There’s a lot to do and before things get too hectic I would like to take a moment to remind everyone to please be careful on the roads.

"Please pay extra attention when you get behind the wheel or step off the curb to cross a street...Buckle up, slow down, be patient, and most importantly, if you drink, don't drive. Taking a taxi or using a designated driver could be the difference between an enjoyable evening out and a disastrous run-in with another vehicle or the police.

"Arlington officers will be out in force using sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to pull impaired drivers off the road. They are also participating in a number of other traffic safety campaigns. It’s our goal to drastically reduce the number of accidents and injuries on Arlington roads. Please help us by practicing safe driving habits, and on behalf of the entire Police Department, I wish you a very happy and safe holiday season."

Thank you, Chief Scott and the Arlington County Police Department. Be careful out there.

--Lauren Hassel, WALKArlington

Coincidence or Conspiracy?

This news just in from north of the border, via "Center Lines," e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW), got me to thinking "coincidence or conspiracy" ?  Read on to see what you think...

According to an October 23rd Vancouver Sun article, "Canadian adults, both men and women, are the most obese in a survey of 63 nations that raises new health warnings for [the] country... Canadian men in the survey had the largest waistlines in the 63 nations, a major indicator of health problems to come. Canadian women were above average, though not the biggest. However, it's not a global survey, as a few countries with known weight problems, including the U.S., were not included."

The same issue of "Center Lines," includes a report on Canada's attempt to set a new World Record for the largest number of people walking one kilometer simultaneously. They walked the walk on October 3, 2007, and are waiting for all the data to be verified by Guinness.  The current record is held by Western Australia with 100,915 participants in September 2006. Click here to see if the Canadians broke the record!

Is it just the conspiracy-theorist in me, or could it be that the Canadians' attempt to break this World Record was an orchestrated national effort to overshadow the Canadian obesity statistics reported just 20 days later?  Whether coincidence or conspiracy, Canadians are to be commended for taking steps toward addressing obesity, one record-setting kilometer at a time!

Meanwhile back in Arlington, as residents and commuters learn more about the Car-Free Diet, they may want to consider the following: A recent ranking by Money magazine of the nation's "skinniest" communities put Arlington at 22. The survey, which is based on average body-mass index, ranks neighboring Fairfax County at 15 and Alexandria at 10. According to federal guidelines, all three communities fall into the "overweight" category. The rankings were covered in the Sun-Gazette newspapers last summer.

Is it just a coincidence that WALKArlington has been fielding an increasing number of inquiries about walking groups?  If you are similarly inclined and would like to join a newly formed weekday evening walking group (Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. meeting at Clarendon Metro) or a weekend morning walking group (Saturdays or Sundays at 10:00 a.m. meeting at Virginia Square Metro), contact lhassel@arlingtonva.us for more information. 

We may not set any records or improve Arlington's skinny index, but we will conspire to get others to join us! After all, you can lose 2000 pounds just by ditching your car and lacing up your walking shoes to get around town!

Lauren, WALKArlington