Best Practices: new resources See many more recent articles and studies at www.AmericanTrails.org/resources

inactivity in our cities. The report notes that “From current evidence, we find that urban river park- ways can improve physical, mental, and community health, and that they are particularly important in offering opportunity for ‘green exercise’— phys- ical activity in the presence of nature.”

To read the article and download the study, see “Study cites health benefits of Urban River Parkways” online at www. AmericanTrails.org/resources/health.

Protected bike lanes Trail safety and crime

prevention features Our newest gallery of photos high- lights user safety and crime prevention on trails. While trails have proven to be generally extremely safe recreational facilities, as with any public place they are subject to the possibilities of crimi- nal activity.

Some of the techniques used to

help ensure the safety of trail users are:  Emergency call boxes  Numbered trail markers to assist 911 responders

 Video cameras  Trail patrols  Warning signs

Read more and view the photos at www. AmericanTrails.org/resources/cool.

Study cites health

benefits of greenways Urban River Parkways: An

Essential Tool for Public Health, by UCLA’s Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, suggests that investing in bikeways and greenways can reduce the health costs of physical

30 FALL 2014 AmericanTrails.org

encourage cycling As cities move to increase levels of bicycling for transportation, many prac- titioners and advocates have promoted the use of protected bicycle lanes (also known as “cycle tracks” or “protected bikeways”) as an important component of the infrastructure for cyclists. Lessons from the Green Lanes:

Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes, from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities, finds “consistent evi- dence that the protected facilities improved the perception of safety for people on bicycles.”

To read more and download the study, see “Protected bike lanes encourage active transportation” online at www. AmericanTrails.org/resources/trans.

USDOT plans ped/bike

safety initiative U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced a new initiative to reduce the growing number of pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities through a comprehensive approach that addresses infrastructure safety, education, vehicle safety, and data collection.

The 18-month campaign will begin

with road safety assessments conducted by U.S. Department of Transportation

field offices in every state, and will pro- duce multiple resources to help com- munities build streets that are safer for people walking, bicycling, and taking public transportation. The Department will promote the development of multimodal networks which include interconnected pedestri- an and bicycle transportation facilities that allow people of all ages and abili- ties to safely and conveniently get where they want to go. This will be accomplished, in part, by promoting pedestrian and bicycle facility design flexibility, and by highlighting best practices at the local, regional, and state level.

The new pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative will promote design improvements to routes for pedestrians and bicycles, promote behavioral safety, and provide education to help individu- als make safer travel choices. Among the many resources the Department will provide will be a guide to creating “road diets,” in which road- ways with lower traffic volumes are redesigned to add space for bicycle rid- ers and pedestrians.

To read more and download “Safer People, Safer Streets” visit www. AmericanTrails.org/resources/trans.