Moscow volunteers observed and counted pedestrians and cyclists at 25 different Moscow locations, including intersections and sidewalks, from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday during an event called iCount.
The Active Living Task Force, a pilot program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in five communities including Moscow, is working to adopt Complete Streets policies, which supports the use of all forms of transportation, emphasizing non-motorized options.
“What we’d like to do is have information and embrace a transportation plan and document travel patterns from not only vehicles, but pedestrians as well,” said Jen Pfiffner, assistant to the city supervisor.
In addition to counting the number of pedestrians and bicyclists, volunteers took note of gender, sidewalk use and helmet use, although the ALTF is most interested in helmet use, Pfiffner said.
Complete Streets is a promise that 283 communities nationwide in 25 states, have opted to create a more user friendly transportation system, including safer crosswalks for pedestrian and transit users and a more efficient use of buses, according to its website.
The ALTF is working with Idaho Smart Growth to address public health concerns linked with sedentary lifestyles through this program, while highlighting the advantages of a more active approach.
The funding for the ALTF to complete the iCount research, as well as provide education and promote active living, comes from a $10,000 grant the city received from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
The grant was received after an application in July 2010, when the ALTF contracted with Idaho Smart Growth to manage the project.
The information gathered from iCount will be used in the Intermodal Transportation Project and a Multi-Modal Transportation Plan. Both projects are aimed to promote and implement active living in Moscow and planning for a more active transportation infrastructure.
The education aspect of Complete Streets began in August with the “Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Design and Planning” training for select ALTF staff which armed them with the fundamentals needed to design and integrate the future transportation plan.
The ALTF will continue to host public meetings and information-sharing sessions to help educate the community about their plans for transportation.