More About Feet First

Feet First was founded in 1996 to promote the rights and interests of pedestrians and to encourage walking. We are incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of Washington.

Board of Directors
David Levinger, President & Executive Director
John Stewart, VP Transit & Land Use
Margaret Kitchell, VP Development
Jim Davis, Treasurer
Rebecca Deehr, Director
Lester Goldstein, Director
Joan McBride, Director

Advisory Board
Alene Moris, Consultant
Michael Pyatok, FAIA, Pyatok & Associates
Charles Royer, Former Mayor of Seattle and Director of the Urban Health Initiative
Anne Vernez-Moudon, PhD, University of Washington
Bill Weis, PhD, Seattle University

Here's what Feet First is doing:

Education

Feet First is a regular co-sponsor of public events that bring speakers Seattle and events that stimulate public discussions on transportation issues among citizens, professionals, and elected officials. (See Pedestrian Summer)

Feet First publishes "Footprints" - the region's quarterly pedestrian newsletter.

Feet First is a community resource. Our members are available to meet with and discuss options available to neighborhoods concerned with improving their walkability.

Producing the Citizens Footbook on pedestrian issues that will introduce people to important grassroots approaches to improving the pedestrian environment.

Advocacy

Feet First holds on-street actions to call attention to unsafe pedestrian sites and to promote a search for solutions.

Feet First participates in local and state-level public forums and committees that deal with pedestrian design and policy issues.

Feet First helped achieve a recent win in the fight to extend the Burke Gilman trail to Golden Gardens, and we're helping in the push for a pedestrian trail from the Arboretum to the Madison Park neighborhood in Seattle.

Community

Feet First is part of the America Walks Coalition, which is comprised of local pedestrian groups around the country.

Feet First belongs to the community of organizations and concerned citizens attending to the long-range needs of the Puget Sound Region. We participate on numerous advisory committees. Through our members, we are connected to dozens of local, national, and international organizations concerned with promoting pedestrain issues.

Pedestrian issues are community issues. Feet First aims to provide the tools, resources, and support for people who wish to strengthen their communities.

Press Coverage

National Ped Poll: People Want to Walk

April 2, 2003: A new national survey released today on attitudes toward walking finds that Americans want to walk more places more often, and are willing to invest in making it possible. Poll results show that if given a choice between walking more and driving more, 55 percent of adults choose walking more. The poll shows overwhelming support for policies to make the walking environment less dangerous for people of all ages, and especially children. A majority (68 percent) favor putting more federal dollars toward improving walkability, even within a constrained budget.
Download the full report from STPP: www.transact.org

A List of Feet First Accomplishements to Date:

Conduct monthly walking tours of significant pedestrian projects and neighborhoods.
Invented the Pocket Pedestrian Flag.
Selected as one of 25 grant recipients from a field of 966 applicants in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation "Active Living by Design" grant competition.
Published the Walking Uptown map and guide
Published the UWALK Pedestrian Guide
Published The Ballard Pedestrian's Friend
Detailed Pedestrian Advocate Handbook (forthcoming).
Active in Local Neighborhood Planning Efforts in Seattle neighborhoods.
Provided detailed comments concerning pedestrian issues for the Seattle Strategic Transportation Plan and the Sound Transit Scoping process for location of both the Light Rail and Commuter Rail Stations.
Hosted "An Evening with Jane Holtz Kay" author of Asphalt Nation
Active participants in the 1996 & 97 "Footprints & Biketracks" Bicycle and Pedestrian Conference at the Seattle Center. Participation and activities included: Provided Panel Speakers, Distributed educational materials, sponsored educational neighborhood walks.
Contributed to the area's first dedicated pedestrian newsletter--Walk Seattle Word--with contributions in all four editions to date.
Wrote the guide to holding "On Street" actions designed to raise awareness of the need for safe crossings, the need for increased access to everyday needs for the disabled, and the importance of driver education and awareness.
Feet First representative Don Bullard was featured on "All Things Considered" radio show discussing the need for increased funding for Bike and Pedestrian paths and trails.
Testified at public hearings for: Seattle Monorail, Burke-Gilman Trail extension, Sound Transit Scoping process, and the Seattle Strategic Transportation Plan, Seattle Council hearings on Seattle Commons project, proposed pedestrian bridges, the Madison Park/Montlake pedestrian trail, and many more hearings.
Member of America Walks
Started the first dedicated Pedestrian Computer Bulletin Board Discussion Group. We now actively participate in the international Pednet listserv.
Fostered relationships and worked with a diverse range of other organizations including: Transportation Choices Coalition, The Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Cascade Bicycle Club, United Cerebral Palsy, City of Seattle, King County DOT, WSDOT, and many more.
Co-sponsored and organized a Candidates Forum for prospective Seattle City Council Candidates
Establihed a Pedestrian Resource Library

Last updated: December 4, 2003