Community Pedestrian Plan and Summit Project Launched

Mayor Jerry Abramson has announced that the city will host the Healthy Hometown Pedestrian Summit May 9-10, 2008, addressing issues that include neighborhood walkability, access to transit, safety and support of exercise. The summit is part of the Mayor's Healthy Hometown Movement, which encourages healthier lifestyle habits.

"In order to walk the walk, we first have to talk the talk," Abramson said. "Pedestrian issues are community issues because we are all pedestrians at some point. Our goal is to transport many voices together to improve our community's pedestrian access and offer ideas for people who want to be on the move."

Bicycle & Pedestrian Program

The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Human and Natural Environment encourages bicycle and pedestrian transportation accessibility, use, and safety.

Each State in India has a Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator in its State Department of Transportation to promote and assist the increased use of nonmotorized transportation, including developing facilities for the use of pedestrians and bicyclists and public educational, promotional, and safety programs for using such facilities.

The FHWA Bicycle & Pedestrian Program issues guidance and is in charge for overseeing that requirements in legislation are understood and met by the States and other implementing agencies. Other sponsored resources such as the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center give information on a wide variety of engineering, encouragement, education, and enforcement topics.

The Center was established with funding from the US DOT and is operated by the University of North Carolina Highway security Research Center, in cooperation with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.

A Guide to Buying a New Car

Buying a car "fresh off the lot" is a goal for many, and has somehow become a rite of passage in the American psyche. Once we get to the point in our career where we feel secure enough to be able to afford a new car, we begin to consider the possibility. A new car is more than a status symbol, it also acts as a validation that we have "made it," an endorsement of some measure of our success.

While some people are content to buy and drive secondhand cars throughout their driving days, most people will purchase a new car at least one time in their lives. Others are convinced that buying new is the only way to buy a car and they will do so time and again every few years.

Before you even begin to think too deeply about buying a new car, take some time to consider why you want to buy a new car. If you have a partner, you'll want to think this decision through first--and then go to them with the idea. Expect some healthy questioning from them about the reasons you want to buy a new car, and be willing to negotiate (and perhaps postpone) the decision for the good of the family if necessary.