Public Health and Transportation
Reminder: Rescheduled to February 16
We all know that it would be better for us to walk or ride our bikes to work than to walk. And even when it’s nice, as it was this weekend, there seem to be a million reasons to drive. Knowing it’s better for all of our health, and knowing how difficult it is to talk us into changing our routines, what’s a city to do, if they want to promote active transportation?
To address this question Transportation Choices, in partnership with Downtown On the Go and the Coalition for Active Transportation, is hosting a forum this month at UW Tacoma on Public Health and Transportation.
The event will feature speakers on a number of topics, including efforts to incorporate health into transportation planning and spending at the state level; the national and regional movement building around addressing health in transportation and land use planning, and ideas for collaborative implementation efforts; and the health department’s grant-funded efforts to promote active transportation at the policy level to reduce chronic disease and obesity in Pierce County.
The public is invited to attend, and to participate in discussion and questions. Maybe you’ve got some questions, maybe you have some ideas. We were thinking that branding the campaign with a Rob McNair-Huff action figure, complete with interchangeable all-weather bike tires, running shoes, and a greatest hits reel of local TV appearances would really inspire Tacomans to get out of their cars and go for a ride. But that’s just one idea…
When: Friday, January 20th, 12:00 noon to 01:30 p.m. _Thursday, February 16th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: University of Washington, Tacoma, Carwein Auditorium
Details: www.downtownonthego.com
Register: www.transportationchoices.org
Contact:
Kristina Walker, Downtown On the Go Manager | 253-682-1739 | kristinaw@tacomachamber.org
Andrew Austin, Transportation Choices Coalition | 253-732-9434 | Andrew@transportationchoices.org
Filed under: Get-Involved, Events
3 comments
J JJ January 11, 2012
Finally the health department is promoting active travel (a British derived health concept)which is not quite common here in our locale.
In our area bike riders concern themselves with utilizing bicycles more for sport or exercise while ignoring that they could get to work or shop and exercise at the same time while easing traffic congestion and being friendly to the environment.Like killing 2 birds with one stone.Oddly I see lots of people also using gyms or running marathon races but choosing to drive to work even if their workplace is fairly close.
A AreteTacoma January 13, 2012
“I see lots of people also using gyms or running marathon races but choosing to drive to work even if their workplace is fairly close.”
That is me completely. I work in an office near the mall and live on the north slope. I feel like a fraud. In my defense, there are no bike friendly routes through the Nalley Valley, and riding next the mall can be hell, but my new years resolution is to get some good rain gear, rechargeable headlights and get my ass out there. That reminds me…I need to head to Tacoma Bike soon.
T talus January 13, 2012
No joke, Arete. The mall area is one of the worst places to bike I’ve ever seen anywhere. The city should pick a route or two (maybe one from downtown and one from central Tacoma/6th Ave) to that part of town and invest in decent bike paths/separated bike lanes.