MartyKraft on "Feet First District"

MartyKraft — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 19:16:59 +0000

We could start by giving the pedestrians and bicyclists the right of way and giving tickets to motorists who do not. There might already be a law in KCMO that says that motorests must stop for pedestrians stepping off the curb at the corners.

ronmclinden on "Feet First District"

ronmclinden — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:38:47 +0000

In the "Policies We Might Change" thread I introduced the concept of a "Feet First District," and Brent added his thoughts. See

http://www.allspecies.org/forum/topic/10?replies=10#post-16

A "Feet First District" would be a part of the city within which walkability and bikability -- rather than SOV mobility and free-flowing traffic -- are the principle design criteria where streets are concerned -- a district within which the "success" of a street is measured by how well it serves non-motorized people.

The FFD should extend well beyond a few isolated enclaves within Downtown, Westport, the Plaza, and Brookside. (When it comes right down to it, those enclaves aren't all that friendly to non-motorists.) It needs to be much more expansive than that -- initially including much of Mayor Barnes' "River-Crown-Plaza" corridor. We should publically claim (and informally "mark") our "territory," and then work with (or, if necessary, against) the city's traffic engineers to make every street and sidewalk and (especially) intersection within the FFD "friendly" to all citizens, especially citizens who don't happen to be "wearing a car" at the moment.

Part of our vision should be that the city will formally embrace the FFD concept and actually "post" the FFD with appropriate signage as upgrades are made. (I'm reminded of signs I saw posted, affirmation-like, all over Baltimore ten years ago: "Baltimore: a City that Reads.")

And part of our vision should be that the FFD be expanded over a period of a decade or two to include all 320 or so square miles within the city limits.

KC Climate Protection Forums Topic: Feet First District

MartyKraft on "Feet First District"

ronmclinden on "Feet First District"