Group Grades Philadelphia On Walkability and Pedestrian Safety
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - How easy is it getting around on foot in Philadelphia? The senior citizen advocacy group "AARP" and the Mayor's Commission on Aging are surveying various Philadelphia intersections to determine how safe they are for the city's 50+ population.
The project is called "Walk On Philadelphia." Using checklists, about 15 AARP volunteers wearing red shirts converged on 15th and Locust Streets (below) and eventually gave that intersection a grade of "C" on its survey.
Story continues below photo...
-----
"This area is minimally walk-friendly and safe," noted Ron Brown of Northeast Philadelphia, a volunteer for AARP. "We could use some reflective tape at the crosswalks to make it easier, (and) there are some three-foot concrete poles that are definitely an obstruction to pedestrians."
He also said there were no countdown displays to let pedestrians know much time they have to get across the street before the traffic light changes.
Janice Knuth, of center city, was going to the store using her walker and agrees with the "C" rating for this intersection.
"With that ramp over there you are directly in the traffic," she told KYW Newsradio, "and the drivers don't pay any attention. They try to beat me in getting around the corner."
Mayor Michael Nutter and city councilman Curtis Jones were out on the streets today, supporting the walkability survey efforts.
Reported by John McDevitt, KYW Newsradio 1060
