Pedestrian Advocates of the Coastal Empire

Police searching for hit and run driver who killed child

John — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:56:54 +0000

Savannah Chatham Police need your help locating a car that hit an 11 year old boy on Abercorn Street at around 9:30, June 3. The boy was then transported to Memorial Health where he later died from injuries. Two brothers were attempting to cross Abercorn in front of the Plantation Oaks Apartments when the 11 year old was struck by a vehicle. The unidentified driver then fled the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 234-2020.

UPDATE: The Savannah Morning News reports the police know what kind of car hit the child:

Police have matched debris left at the scene to a Lexus ES series model car, built between 2002 and 2004. The car is four-door, dark in color, and will have damage to the right front hood and broken headlight.

Read more here. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact police at 651-6676 or CrimeStoppers at 234-2020.

Walk the Walk with PACE on May 16

John — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:34:16 +0000

PACE will host a Crosswalk Action at the intersection of Liberty Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from noon – 12:30 p.m. What’s a Crosswalk Action, you say?

A Crosswalk Action is an organized event to communicate pedestrian safety messages in a fun and friendly way.

If you are interested in participating meet at the southwest corner of Liberty and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard at noon.

Please join us if you can!

The Crosswalk Action is part of the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority’s Dump the Pump: Leave Your Car at Home Day. The goal is to raise awareness about the benefits of using alternative modes of transportation and to encourage people from throughout the community to commute by carpooling, mass transit, bicycling and walking. For more information, visit the Savannah Transit Web site.

National study ranks best and worst walking cities of 2008

John — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:54:02 +0000

The American Podiatric Medical Association and Prevention Magazine have released the 2008 list of best and worst walking cities in America. This year’s survey included more than 500 U.S. cities, evaluated and ranked on 14 walking criteria, including the percentage of adults who walk to work, number of parks per square mile, use of mass transit, and percentage of adults who walk for fitness.

The 10 Best U.S. Walking Cities of 2008
1. Cambridge, MA
2. New York, NY
3. Ann Arbor, MI
4. Chicago, IL
5. Washington, DC
6. San Francisco, CA
7. Honolulu, HI
8. Trenton, NJ
9. Boston, MA
10. Cincinnati, OH

The Ten Worst U.S. Walking Cities of 2008

1. Oklahoma City, OK
2. North Las Vegas, NV
3. Gadsden, AL
4. Davenport, IA
5. Mount Pleasant, SC
6. Enid, OK
7. Laredo, TX
8. Springdale, AR
9. Clarksville, TN
10. Lafayette, LA

Savannah, often regarded as one of the most walkable cities in North America, doesn’t even make the top 100, coming in at 141. Savannah was identified as the second most walkable city in Georgia, after Atlanta.

The complete results of the survey are available here:

Walkable towns curb obesity, pollution, expert says

John — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:34:48 +0000

Via Reuters:

Designing walkable communities is a cost-effective way to address the growing epidemic of obesity in the United States and cut down on harmful car emissions and pollution, a researcher told the American College of Sports Medicine’s 12th annual Health and Fitness Summit in Long Beach, California.

Jan. 10, 2008 Meeting Minutes

John — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:36:49 +0000

To download a copy of the minutes, click here.

2007 Meeting Minutes

John — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:27:59 +0000

Crosswalk Action - Walkers needed

John — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:02:04 +0000

PACE (Pedestrian Advocates of the Coastal Empire) will conduct a Crosswalk Action tomorrow (March 7) at 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Bay and Jefferson.

Please come out and help support our pedestrian safety efforts in Savannah.

NOTE: Rain is forecasted for tomorrow - in case of rain this event will be canceled.

For more information, call Alison at 691-7445.

International Walk to School Day 2007

Alison Gramza — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:51:35 +0000

Pooler Elementary School was the media site for International Walk to School Day 2007.Â Despite the rain there was a great turnout.Â Over 200 students, parents, and teachers walked along with city officials and Board of Education representatives.

UPDATE: Press conference still on, crosswalk actions rescheduled

John — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:56:59 +0000

Thank you to everyone who signed up to help with today’s Press Conference and Crosswalk Actions.

The 10 a.m. press conference will still be happening at City Hall, inside. However, we will NOT be holding ANY crosswalk actions today due to the rain. If you are able to make it to the press conference today your time would be greatly appreciated!

We have rescheduled and will be conducting four crosswalk actions on Thursday, Sept. 6.Â We have changed the times and locations in order to cover some school zones (since it’s the first week back to school).Â They are as follows:

8-8:15 a.m. - Intersection of Victory Dr. and Skidaway Rd. (meetÂ in the Arby’s parking lot)

8:45-9: a.m. - Intersection of East Broad St. and Liberty St. (meet at East Broad Elementary School)

2:45-3 p.m. - Intersection of Montgomery Cross Rd. and Hodgson Memorial Dr. (meet in CVS parking lot)

4-4:15p.m. - Intersection of White Bluff Rd. and Television Circle (meet in shopping center parking lot - center includes and teacher’s supply store, Tuesday Morning, and other stores)

To sign up to participate in one or all of the crosswalk actions, contact Alison Gramza atÂ 912-691-7445, 356-2160 or amgramza [at] dhr.state.ga.us.
Let’s work together to make Savannah a safer place to walk!

City to launch pedestrian safety program Aug. 31

John — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:05:01 +0000

Pedestrian Advocates of the Coastal Empire has been working with the City of Savannah on a pedestrian safety campaign to educate drivers and pedestians on the laws and how to stay safe.Â This camapign will start with education and eventually turn into enforcement ofÂ the laws (ie.Â jay walking and not yeilding to pedestrians).We need your help!Â There will be a press conference kick-off at City Hall on Friday, Aug. 31 at 10a.m., followed by a crosswalk action at that intersectionÂ (Bull and Bay).Â Â We are in DESPERATE need of volunteers toÂ attend the press conference and participate in the crosswalk action.Â We will also be holding 4 other corsswalk actions that day at 4 different intersections.

1. 10 a.m. - press conference and crosswalk action at intersection of Bull and Bay Streets.

2. 10:45 a.m. - crosswalk action atÂ intersection of Bull and Liberty streets.

3. 11:15 a.m. - crosswalk action at intersection of Liberty Street and MLK Boulevard.

4.Â 1:30 p.m. - crosswalk action at intersection of Mall Boulevard and Abercorn Street

5. 2:30 p.m. - crosswalk action at intersection of Skidaway Road and Victory Drive.Â

Ice cold bottled water will be provided.Â Wear your walking shoes and bring a friend or co-worker.Â Look for the Safe Kids Savannah van, or the new brightly colored crosswalk action signs that we will be carrying.Â Please feel free to forward this and invite others to participate.Â The more we have the better.

Thank you for signing up to participate in one or all of the crosswalk actions by contacting Alison Gramza atÂ 912-691-7445, 356-2160 or amgramza [at] dhr.state.ga.us.