Breakfast links II: Human power

Let ‘em walk?

Many of today’s parents grew up walking to school, but won’t let their kids do the same. Is that keeping kids safer, or just keeping them more isolated? A new book says parents “have gone overboard with anxiety.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, Stephen Miller)  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

Laurel walking ahead

The Laurel government has created a blog to regularly post updates on pedestrian improvements across the city. This will eventually become part of a new city Web site, but shows the value of just telling residents about projects even without waiting for a fancy, long-term solution. (WalkLaurel)

Quick links

Frederick County is increasing the “walkability shed”, requiring students to walk farther to school or to bus stops to save money (WTOP, Stephen Miller) … Which Dutch-style urban bike is the best? (Slate) … MPG standards make no sense when applied to electric cars.  (Tip: Stephen Miller)

RT seen my bike?

Bike owners are turning to Facebook, Twitter, and specialized Web sites to find stolen bikes. Often fellow cyclists spot the bike on the street or on Craigslist, and the local police can make an arrest. (WSJ, Matt’)  (Tip: Matt')

Two bicycle fatalities in Virginia

A driver killed a cyclist in a hit-and-run in Gainesville. He was on Lee Highway’s paved shoulder at the time. Another bicyclist died in a crash in Rockingham County. WHSV 3 has no problem writing “the driver hit the bicyclist.” (TheWashCycle, WHSV 3)

CNN aired graphic video

CNN producers must agree that texting while driving is really serious, as they actually aired that graphic Welsh PSA which shows teenage girls and a family dying in a car crash. Robert Sinclair of the Automobile Club of New York (AAA’s local affiliate) told CNN, “For the average person in our country, in the course of their day-to-day existence, there’s nothing more dangerous than riding in, or operating, a motor vehicle.”

‘Accident’ out at NY AAA

In the CNN interview, Sinclair also agreed that ‘accident’ isn’t the appropriate language. “We don’t say ‘accidents’ any more, because it implies some measure of fate, and all these things are preventable … The #1 cause of death for someone aged birth to 44 years is a car crash,” he said. Lon?  (Tip: Matt')

MoCo plans on Kojo

Today’s Nnamdi and Lewis Show discusses Montgomery County’s major development plans, White Flint (good) and Gaithersburg West (bad). Will Lewis see through the holes in one of the two plans? Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson will also participate. It starts just after noon. (WAMU)  (Tip: Matt')