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Giving pedestrians the walk-around
Expert offers Takoma pedestrian-friendly
advice
BY JULIE WIATT
 Dan
Burden, of Walkable Communities, Inc., Palo Alto, California,
led local walking tours on July 21 and 22 to analyze hazards
pedestrians face and recommend solutions that would improve
safety and quality of life.
The tours of Takoma Park, Takoma, DC, and Takoma/Langley
crossroads, included the intersection of Blair and Cedar Avenues
[below]. Here and elsewhere he proposes roundabouts (traffic
circles), pedestrian islands, sidewalk extensions, more visible
pedestrian crossings, and spots of greenery to alleviate the
heat gain, pollution, and ugliness of expanses of asphalt
and paving.
 At
the Takoma Metro, Burden suggested that the metrobuses could
take up much less space if the waiting area was centralized
and schedules were announced on an electronic sign.
Citizens brought their concerns for historic preservation,
bikeability, handicapped accessibility, environment and safety
to the walkarounds. All of these goals seemed compatible with
Burden’s vision of walkable community.
 Burden
gave his report to the Takoma Park City Council. Tapes of
that meeting and copies of the report are available from the
city. Burden’s website is www.walkable.org.
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