September 18, 2016
Philadelphia often receives a lot of praise for its walkability and this week the city added yet another honor.
The City of Brotherly Love was designated as a Walk Friendly Community by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), Mayor Jim Kenney's Office announced.
“One of the best things about living in Philadelphia is all the great ways people can move through neighborhoods," said Clarena Tolson, Deputy Managing Director of Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems. "The city’s dense urban core, and our beautiful trail networks, make it easy and fun for everyone to walk and bike every day.”
Philadelphia was awarded Silver Level status by the organization, which rates communities on a scale from bronze to platinum. The city was among the first 10 cities named as a Walk Friendly Community in 2011.
The PBIC praised the city for installing signage to help pedestrians find their way, implementing healthy initiatives and supporting the transit system.
Since its inception, 58 municipalities have been recognized by the PBIC. Only Seattle has achieved Platinum Level.
The organization aims to improve the public's quality of life by promotion safe walking and bicycling. It is operated by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center and funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and FedEx.
