During my internship last semester, I had the opportunity to visit PURL, Phoenix Urban Research Lab, a few times. I also met some employees including Aaron Kimberlin, the Associate Director of PURL. Through this connection I was able to go to an event yesterday, that promoted the importance of walkability and how it can be accomplished in downtown Phoenix. Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk was a lecture/workshop explaining how certain traffic calming practices, alternative transportation facilitates, and sustainable community design enhance walkability within a city. Dan Burden, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, led the lecture and informed the audience of his successful practices.
The group was able to conduct a walkability audit by taking a walking tour of the downtown area. At each stop ideas were explained of what can be done to those areas in order to become more pedestrian friendly. The workshop consisted of small groups focused on a certain street section and adding elements that would make it easier to walk through. It's amazing what people can come up with when given the opportunity to be creative.
This presentation is part of PURL's Transit Town Initiative, which aims to help Phoenix achieve its goal in providing more transportation choices.
I hope everyone has a great Spring Break!
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