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Issue: # 10                 Walk to School Day is October 5October 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
CW Open House 10/26
UPcoming Workshops & Webinars
ACTION ALERTS
                                  
                        California WALKS Open House--
          Welcome to our new Franklin Street Oakland office
                           Wednesday, October 26---3:30-6:00 
                             1904 Franklin Street, Suite 709
                                         Oakland
                      (one block from 19th Street BART station)
                      
            
    Facebook icon California WALKS is now on Facebook! Visit and like us!
Visit our new facebook page for updates on California WALKS action alerts, activities, state and national news, upcoming events and more! Direct link to the California WALKS facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/California-Walks/227095277335924.
 
Step out and celebrate International Walk to School day on Wednesday, October 5! For more information on Walk to School day events and to find a registered event near you please visit the International Walk to School website.

                      WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS

 

        California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) Workshop

California WALKS presents Safer Street Crossing for Seniors!

Tuesday, October 18

Time: 2:00-3:00 pm & 3:30-4:30 pm

Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach, CA 

Registration fee: $125; register at www.CaliforniaAlliance.org.

 

 

                CW at APHA, Washington, D.C.

Monday, October 31st--8:30 a.m.

California WALKS   "Engaging Older Adults" (using video and photovoice) as effective health advocates for increased access, safe mobility and physical activity. Rhianna Babka, Diana Rodriguez, and Wendy Alfsen will present 3001.0, Aging and the Built Environment. Join us at APHA: http://apha.confex.com/apha/139am/webprogram/Session31726.html
 
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Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Webinar

Tuesday, October 11--10:00-11:00 Pacific Time

Location, Location, Location: New Guidance for Locating Schools in a Healthy, Sustainable Way

Where communities choose to locate their schools plays a big role in the health of the students, local residents, and even the surrounding neighborhood. This webinar will address the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's first-ever federal guidelines for locating school facilities and the model school siting policies for school districts.

Register now at https://www.gotomeeting.com/register/897738896 or for more information, contact Michelle Gulley at [email protected].

 

 

 

Public Health Institute Webinar,

Wednesday, October 12--11 a.m.

Designing Healthy Communities: A Conversation with Richard Jackson, M.D., M.P.H.

Register at: https://publichealthinstitute.webex.com/mw0306ld/mywebex/defaultdo?siteurl-publichealthinstitute& service=6 

   

 

Public Involvement in the Transportation Planning Process Webinar
 October 12 at 11:00 a.m.
This event is designed for transportation advocates who want to be better informed and prepared to offer input that decision-makers will hear, understand and incorporate into their regional transportation plans. for more information or to ask the presenters questions in advance, email [email protected].
Registration deadline: October 7
 
 Multimodal Level of Service Analysis in the 2010 Highway   
Capacity Manual APBP Webinar
Wednesday, October 19
12:00-1:00 p.m.
 
 
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Conference
October 24-17 in Charlotte, N.C.
This conference tracks focus on Complete Streets Design and implementation; Livability and Economic Development; and New Guidelines, Research and Standards. Session details and registration at www.apbppds.org.
 
                                 Sacramento Area Events   

                

"Safe Routes for All: Policy, Planning and Practice for a Healthy Region"

Friday, October 21

8:30-4:00 at Sacramento County Office of Education

10474 Mather Blvd, Mather, CA  

FREE to attend. Lunch will be available for purchase at the conference for $10; light breakfast and socializing from 8:30-9:00. The theme of conference is how to get your Safe Routes to School project funded. Join us and get a leg up on the competition!

Register at http://saferoutesforall2011.eventbrite.com.   

 

 "Safe Routes for All"--- a California WALKS Network event sponsored by WALKSacramento

Thursday, November 3rd, 9am-4pm (breakfast at 9:30, program starts at 10:00)

Place:  Sierra Health Foundation, 1321 Garden Highway, Sacramento.

Cost: $10, payable at the door

Using and analyzing tools to increase funding and civic engagement, and work to develop a truly visionary regional plan. Participants will hear about effective plans and strategies from around the region and state with hands-on exercises to build their skills.

For more information, go to http://sustainingsacramento2011.eventbrite.com.

 

 

Action Alert!   

 

Support Complete Streets

Please send a message to your members of Congress urging that they ensure that strong public health provisions are included in any legislation to reauthorize the federal transportation law.  

 

Transportation for America urges you to remind lawmakers they have a deadline to meet. Ask them to pass a clean extension of the transportation bill immediately. If lawmakers fail to act in the next few days, the federal transportation program will expire! Imaging the hit to our struggling economy: no federal funds for roads, bridge repair, or transportation options; thousands of American workers facing halts in work or layoffs; a loss of $1 billion. Contact Congress now!

           
                                    San Rafael Plans to Remove Crosswalks
San Rafael proposes removing two crosswalks on fast moving Third Street after determining the intersections aren't safe places for pedestrians to cross the busy thoroughfare. Nader Mansourian, San Rafael's public works director, states that crosswalks will be removed within 30 days, from September 6, unless the public raises concerns or objections. If the city receives a significant number of objections during the 30-day period, it will hold a community meeting before making a final decision. To comment, call the Public Works Department at
415-485-3355. Go to www.marinij.com/ci_18925680 for complete story.
 
 
                                   A Traffic Report from England
Effect of 20 mph Traffic Speed Zones on Road Injuries in London: 41.9% decrease in road casualties
Road injuries are among the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide, disproportionately borne by poor pedestrians, particularly children and young adults. Chris Grundy and his colleagues from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine investigate the effect of 20 mph speed zones on road casualties in London. They found that introducing 20 mph zones was associated with a 41.9% reduction in road casualties and that the percentage reduction was greatest in younger children and greater for the category of killed or seriously injured than for minor injuries. In addition the researchers found that the areas adjacent to 20 mph zones also had a reduction in casualties (8%) suggesting that there was no migration of casualties to nearby roads. They concluded that 20 mph zones are effective in reducing traffic related injuries and deaths. Read the full article at
 

                                   Carbon Savings from Walking Trips

 

 Save 1 lb Carbon with Every Mile You Walk!

 

1 mile driving  (20 mpg) foregone (walking trip) = 1 lb CO2 saved based on the following formula:

 

Average car gets  22 mpg

1/22nd gallon =1 mile foregone

per this site (http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition)

1 gallon of gas= 8.7kg CO2. 1kg=2.2 lbs.

8.7 x 2.2 is 19.4 lbs

so, in a car that gets 22 miles to the gallon, the vehicle generates .88 lbs CO2 per mile.

 

The calculations change depending on MPG, so if a car gets less than 22 mpg, it generates more carbon per mile, with 19.4 MPG being the 1 mile=1 lb CO2 point.

 

Count each mile you walk instead of drive as saving 1 lb of CO2!!

 

(Formula from the Massachusetts Climate Action Network) Thanks to WalkBoston for this info.

For more information or to join California WALKS, go to www.californiawalks.org.  

Please contact [email protected] or call 510.684.5705 if you have any questions or want information about our organization.
Logo.         
 
Sincerely,
Wendy Alfsen 
 
California WALKS


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