From the 8 80 Blog: The Power of Volunteers

8 80 Cities Admin. & Communications Manager Camila Uriona,  spoke to some of the volunteers who consistently dedicated their time to volunteering with us during our 8 80 Streets Pilot Projects. We wanted to know them better and to get their perspective and feedback about the projects they got involved in during the summer and fall of 2019. We are happy to share their thoughts with you. Enjoy!

Redesigning Roads Can Reduce Pedestrian Deaths

Slowing cars down in cities should be the highest priority. The number of fatalities in Canada is growing. What is stopping us to adopt measures that will have a long-term impact, for instance reducing pedestrian deaths to ZERO, and ensuring everyone's safety? CBC chatted with Jennifer Keesmaat to analyze the issue.

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Listening to Children when Designing a City Benefits All

What can result from meetings between senior city staff and local children when planning the design of our urban centres? A city that works for all; a city that is more inclusive; a place where we all can live in and enjoy. A good example is Tirana, Albania, where children have a say about the infrastructure they need in their city. 

In this article from Apolitical, we learn from Erion Veliaj, Tirana's Mayor, all the reasons why he believes that giving their youngest population the time, effort, participation in the decision-making and thinking processes has changed the city for better. The article also discusses a new report from Arup Cities Alive: Designing for Urban Childhoods that helps us understand the importance of keeping our youngest city dwellers in mind when planning the city where they will grow up.

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Bike Breakthrough: Connecting Neighborhoods with Low-stress Routes 

There is nothing more pleasurable than the freedom of riding your bike in the city with the certainty that you are safe while getting from point A to B.  

In this article, Jay Walljasper uses examples from cities like New York to discuss the ingredients that make a bike ride not only pleasurable but safe; the importance of connecting neighbourhoods and investing in biking infrastructure.

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Active Parks, Healthy Cities: A Report on Neighbourhood Parks and Wellbeing 

Active Parks, Healthy Cities (City Parks Alliance, The Trust for Public Land and the RAND Corporation), shares the findings of the National Study of Neighborhood Parks into four major recommendation categories: Programming, Design, Marketing and Outreach, and Measuring Park Use. The report curates multiple case studies for each of the four major findings from cities of different sizes and geographies for park and recreation professionals, health organizations, advocacy groups and others to replicate. Well designed neighbourhood parks and good programming are a tool to address public health challenges.

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