East Palo Alto Planning Division brings bikes to the table
The East Palo Alto Planning Division really likes bikes, and the folks who work there want to share the fun with the rest of the city. In recognition of Bike to Work Day, Thursday, March 13, 2010, the City of East Palo Planning Division is biking to work, and also considering a new Health Star program to recognize those businesses, commercial establishments or schools that are doing more than their share to improve local community health.
According to Planning Manager Brent Butler, “with 48 percent of students in grades 5-7 overweight or obese, there is a sense of urgency to make improvements now to ensure that future generations of kids grow up healthy, and learn the importance of getting around by walking and riding. We’re BIKING TO WORK to encourage others to do the same. Other initiatives include reviewing sidewalk, road and public infrastructure plans, and existing developments to gather ideas from the stakeholders, businesses and their users, to ensure that all the ‘best practices’ that encourage non-motorized mobility are incorporated.”
In April, the Public Works and Transportation Commission unanimously approved the forwarding of a recommendation to adopt the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s Bicycle Technical Guidelines and to lower the thresholds of significance for transportation projects so that, among other things, bicycle mobility inside the City’s boundaries increases and that the health impacts of new projects are known in advance. On May 18, 2010, the East Palo Alto City Council is slated to review the Public Works and Transportation Commission recommendations to adopt these initiatives.
This is great news out of East Palo Alto. If you live in the city, contact the city council to thank them for considering adopting the initiatives and let them know that they have your support!
http://www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/citycouncil/index.html
To become a health partner with the city, or share your ideas, contact Planning Manager Brent Butler at bbutler@cityofepa.org.
