Imagine Greater Tucson 2010-11 Phase I Community Conversation and Survey Statements Related to A walkable community

1	300 parking spaces in front of malls inhibits pedestrian access
2	Alternative transportation - more light rail, electric cars, platinum status as a cycling community. Lots of pedestrian space downtown, arts warehouse district full of artists, nurturing our successes in optics and other industries, being aggressive about bringing high paying jobs to town, supportive of arts and small businesses, green economies.
3	Any great community is pedestrian friendly. The extensive roadway growth particularly in the inner city needs to end. Automobiles should be last priority after transit, bikes and peds. If motorists don't like it then they can change modes or move to a car crazy city like Phoenix of Las Vegas.
4	As a taxpayer, it is distressing to see our public funds used to promote more road-building at the expense of everything else. Roads eat up valuable land and serve to promote more vehicle use. Investing in our transit systems, creating walkable neighborhoods, and re-directing capital from building more roads into creating multi-modal corridors will make us a more cohesive city that encourages inner-city living. The RTA is an un-balanced committee that promotes urban-sprawl and fails miserably at investing in the already-built densest parts of our community or in its mass transit systems.
5	Because there is a higher percentage of pedestrians and cyclists near (UA) campus, the paths and lighting need improvement
6	Better bike and pedestrian infrastructure
7	Better pedestrian amenities (sidewalks, shade, an aesthetic experience)
8	Better pedestrian roads that intersect walls
9	Better pedestrian/bicycling infrastructure
10	Bike & pedestrian friendliness
11	Can they make it more friendly, like newer bus for more frequent and highly used routes, cleaner vehicle, fewer roads, more bike lanes, more pedestrian friendly areas. more family oriented night life.
12	Change the layout of public transportation and pedestrian crossings (build bridges for the mid-block crosswalks to cut down on fatalities and accidents
13	Connect pedestrian ways from Shannon to Rillito Parkway
14	Convenience and pollution. Roads are more and more crowded. There is little ease in getting from one side of town to the other. Also, there is little apparent thought about making Tucson pedestrian-friendly. With the climate we have, sidewalks should encourage walking, not being so narrow and unattractive.
15	Create walkable neighborhoods with sidewalks and shade
16	Difficulty finding good, walkable, central neighborhood
17	Downtown really should have a pedestrian mall
18	Downtown should be a vibrant ad attractive place for people of all ages. I would like to see downtown Tucson create a pedestrian mall along part of downtown similar to Denver's. I think more can be done to create college student housing and thriving retail and restaurants. Additionally, I would like to see more signage and promotion of museums and events that occur downtown.
19	Driving to work there is a lot of gridlocks from the pedestrians and buses. Don't have have safe above traffic crosswalks, lots of accidents are constantly occurring for mid-traffic crosswalks
20	Enforcement of pedestrian crossing
21	Fix the lack of continuous bike and pedestrian lanes
22	For pedestrians in the area of downtown, it's not a safe place crossing the streets. People in cars continue to run lights and go through when pedestrians have the right of way. They also run plenty of red lights.
23	Great 'bones' and improvements to make it a pedestrian friendly, thriving downtown but it still needs more reason to come down there after hours (bars, clubs, restaurants, etc.) and designated areas/clusters of shops (i.e. antiques). Wig stores and Greyhound stations don't work!
24	Having a walkable city (such as is found in Europe, parts of South America, and elsewhere in the world) improves our overall quality of life. A person can get their bread, coffee, and produce all within a short walk
25	I am a cyclist and believe that cities can be livable without being overly dense, loud or dirty and that designing cities on a bike/pedestrian scale is the way to get there.
26	I am excited about the street car and feel that this is an excellent direction to move in... making our communities more livable and walkable is one reason i love Tucson and would like to see this focus continue
27	I am troubled that our community is so reliant on the automobile for transportation. It causes air pollution, stress (all those traffic jams!), safety concerns (no pedestrian eyes on the street as well as many auto crashes), and is a public health issue (not enough walking!!!). A major problem is underfunded multi-modal transit options. Our community needs to start giving greater priority to mixed use, higher density infill developments, walkable communities, more sidewalks, bus pullouts, shade trees, more regional bus lines, bikeways, bike lanes, and greater frequency of bus arrivals/departures.
28	I feel that for a city of tucson's size should have more positive public spaces and more pedestrian-oriented areas. I personally feel that these types of spaces are better for the community and overall health.
29	I go there every morning, its a pedestrian area with an artistic feel. its ok to be who you are downtown.
30	I hate seeing litter everywhere - especially adults throwing their garbage on the streets. I see the on a regular basis how many people are ignorant of general pedestrian street crossing and white cane laws
31	I like how Central Tucson is a walkable community. It's important to be able to walk outside your home or work and be able to interact with others and not be reliant on a car.
32	I live just west of downtown in the area most affected by the planned revitalization. So far, there is a wall and a few up-scale homes that no-one in the neighborhood could ever afford to purchase. There are so many wonderful things that could be happening: downtown as an all pedestrian area with restaurants, theater, music, outlets for traditional native crafts, the Stewart Boot Company (or similar), good art galleries (like Etherton), and trams to connect to all of it plus the Tucson Museum of Art and surrounding historic sites. 'A' Mtn. could be cleaned up and made into a safe place for walking, biking, and site seeing from trams for tourists, families, others who congregate - but no cars and no alcohol or drugs. The land west of the river should not just be another housing development. We need walkways, horse trails, an interactive science center, movie theaters, coffee shop, a Trader Joe's or Sunflower, a pool, a gym, boutique hotel, amenities that appeal to the neighborhood and to tourists alike. I personally resent the increase in my property taxes that was meant to reflect the higher values that Rio Nueve was going to create. I don't want lower taxes, I want Rio Nuevo!!
33	I lived near Denver for several years and loved going downtown, specifically the LoDo district. Day or night there is an energy there - people walking along the 16th Ave pedestrian street or riding the free tram between shops/restaurants. There are several bars, clubs and restaurants all in one central location near Coors Field, where the Rockies play. They revitalized their downtwon before I moved to Colorado so I don't know the details of what they did to improve it and attract the energy it now has, but their city planners would definitely be a resource to talk to. Our downtown isn't the 'hub' of Tucson. Unless something like the 2nd Saturdays event is happening where there are multiple things going on at once, it's not the most appealing area of Tucson to spend time, particularly at night.
34	I think Tucson would be the perfect place if we offered more cultural activities and entertainment. Downtown is not one that I would call a walkable or inviting ares in part of the lack of entertainment.
35	I think that this community would benefit tremendously if we could bring a bit more balance to our transportation options and make the city more liveable/walkable/bikeable. It would not only make the geography more attractive, it would have tremendous health benefits. It makes me crazy that such an obvious win-win concept is met with such resistance by powerful interests that have such influence.
36	I travel a lot. To have a vibrante walkable, safe urban core with the arts, the restaurants, the liveable community is priceless....
37	I work very closely with blind and deaf-blind people and see how the inconsistencies of pedestrian walkways cause a lot of confusion and at times cause blind and deaf-blind travelers to put themselves in danger
38	I would increase the amount of pedestrian/bicycle pathways
39	I would like to see Tucson as a leader in alternative transportation. More bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, comfortable buses, modern streetcar and light rail to Phoenix.
40	I would use the bus in town if the distance to the bus stop was walkable for my age (84).
41	I'd like the city to be more walkable.
42	I'd like to (see) Tucson become a city with sustainable densities that promote walkable and bikeable streets, vibrant neighborhoods and a healthier quality of life
43	I'd like to be able to shop, be entertained, and make medical/dental appointments in one small, pedestrian-friendly area. (Dream on!)
44	Improve pedestrian/bike experiences on major thoroughfares
45	Improved bike & pedestrian infrastructure
46	Improved public transit, better ride/walk to work options, etc. We need to get more people off the roads and make Tucson a more pedestrain friendly environment. Hopefully the modern streetcar project will go towards achieving these goals.
47	In reference to #1, but also to make Tucson safer for pedestrians. People shouldn't get hit by cars when they are crossing the street in the crosswalk with the green light. People drive crazily in Tucson.
48	It is not easy to be a pedestrian even in the areas that are 'most' pedestrian friendly.
49	It seems that the City of Tucson has no common character, the various parts of the city have very different architecture, landscape, and traffic/pedestrian flow. It would be nice to have some integration and bring more of the Sonoran Desert into the urban areas.
50	Lack of walkable communities
51	Lack of walkable urban spaces
52	Livable/walkable neighborhoods - a positive community that isn't choked with cars
53	Live/work homes (more businesses okay with workers at home), neighborhoods (easier acceptance of home businesses), better sidewalks for pedestrians, better roadways for bicyclist
54	Living in a bikable, walkable community with good public transportation options is very appealing
55	Major intersections are dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians - would like to see more underpasses like near the University under Speedway
56	Make Tucson more pedestrian friendly by planting trees along streets.
57	Make University St/Main Gate a pedestrian only area
58	Make it morewalkable/bikeable
59	Make the city more walkable, more humane
60	Make the streets not only bike or pedestrian friendly, but bike and pedestrian centric
61	Many people in this City depend on the transit system to go to work. In addition, many others could use transit as form of mobility, which will substantially reduce traffic, allow us to have more pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and make the community more sustainable. The problem is that the community has grown in a manner that contributes to urban sprawl and such sprawl does not support the critical mass needed to support light rail, street cars or a more efficient transit system.
62	More bicycle & pedestrian friendly streets
63	More consistent wheelchair and white cane friendly pedestrian walkways
64	More focus downtown on pedestrian/bicycle facilities
65	More pedestrian and bicycle friendly streets
66	More pedestrian crosswalks between city blocks
67	More pedestrian friendly than Phoenix area
68	More pedestrian-friendly (more walkable, better better bus systems - encourage communal transportation)
69	More sidewalks to promote a walkable community/bus shelters
70	More walkable built areas
71	More walkable community activity centers
72	My neighborhood is walkable with access to many amenities
73	Need more walkable/livable neighborhoods
74	Needs to be safer 4 walking for pedestrians
75	Not pedestrian friendly (particularly near U of A)
76	Not very bike or pedestrian friendly
77	Pedestrian areas and pedestrian scale commercial should expand
78	Pedestrian use of city
79	People are often rude on the road...won't let a car out of a driveway when clearly there is no place to go. In addition, people do not know what to do when the pedestrian lights are flashing and they often won't move over to the right when driving gar less than the posted speed limit.
80	People working to make Tucson a bicycle and pedestrian friendly town makes it a nice place to live. When I am zipping along the freeways in the Phoenix area I feel disconnected and like I am observing my life rather than living it.
81	Physical and mental health is better for pedestrians
82	Provide greater accessibility and walkable areas throughout the region
83	Recently we were downtown. Although there seemed to be many people, many stores and shops were empty. The area itself does not have the special character of some other urban centers. More strictly pedestrian areas would be nice, with trees, benches, fountains.
84	Rethink system of pedestrian crossings - mid-block crossings are unsafe
85	Shade is needed- it reduces the heat island effect and makes for a walkable community even in the heat of summer
86	Since it is mostly government downtown, making downtown a pedestrian zone seems like an excellent way to vitalize downtown and curb the traffic problems.
87	Sprawl- lack of connectivity and mobility and walkable neighborhoods
88	Stop sprawling development - really part of #1 - make the urban core and central Tucson more livable with real neighborhoods that you don't need a car on the weekends if you don't want to drive, walkable neighborhoods with retail, food etc.
89	Stronger community education program about pedestrian travel laws, white cane laws and aniti-littering on the streets
90	Surface streets are deteriorating rapidly. We need a comprehensive maintenance and repair plan so all forms of ground transportation, public and private, will have good streets to travel on. We also need to provide more options for pedestrian and bicycle transportation.
91	TOD with walkable city
92	The City needs to be more pedestrian friendly
93	The Rillito River path and other arteries need to be developed to support more pedestrian and business activity - lighting for night time would be perfect - look at the path around Reid Park as an example. Think San Antonio or Austin in terms of active people zones.
94	The central location of UofA campus was important because I was a student there and because I am an alum, I often return there for games and other events. The campus itself, is a walkable area.
95	The pedestrian friendliness of downtown, 4th ave shopping and university areas,
96	The sprawl factor is really terrible here. It takes at least 20 minutes to get anywhere. There are very few walkable communities in the city. Everything is spread out and there are way too many empty strip malls in this city.
97	There is a lot of pedestrian, bike, trolley and cars that make this a scary area.
98	They say it can't work. But, I think that bringing vitality downtown would occur if the city would stop spending rio nuevo dollars on pipe dream disconnected projects. Instead, provide one infrastructure project in the form of a pedestrian mall and ample parking nearby, that provides the backbone/link for future connection of projects. Look at Boulder and Denver.
99	This doesn't mean sidewalks so much as trees and shade. We don't walk primarily because it is too hot and we want to stay out of the sun. Sign codes could be revised to allow visibility for businesses. This is important to me because I live in a part of town that is reasonably walkable and others, especially those who rely on bus transportation, should have the same benefits.
100	This is important not only to me but, I suspect, to everyone. We need more mass transit; a train system would be nice and would be totally doable here. Maybe Bus Rapid Transit. More bike paths, especially on the periphery. This could be easily accomplished by stopping the practice of walling in groupings of new houses with no pedestrian/bike through access.
101	Ti would be nice to have a pedestrian friendly licely pretty downtown where people could walk in the evening fell safe and enjoy restaurants music arts and other fun events. would be nice to have a destination downtown to be proud of. i really think it is important to have aplace to stroll like in European cities. nice outdoor performance spaces.
102	Trails & paths for pedestrians, bikes, etc.
103	Tucson and Pima County need a functional transportation plan. We need to look at alternatives to automobile travel within the city. Improved bike lanes, pedestrian access, satellite parking in the U of A and downtown areas. Use some of the vacant land away from the U of A and downtown for parking and provide better public transportation to those areas.
104	Tucson could be more attractive with better pedestrianways and enhanced landscaping, especially along major streets, thereby being able to have a more pleasing experience.
105	Tucson currently has all disadvantages of a large metro area and not many advantages. Leaders better get it together and attract more invest $ to make the urban area more livable. More parks, green spaces, and walkable neighborhoods
106	Tucson has a great network of trails and bike paths with more being added all the time thanks to the RTA. This makes Tucson a place about people, not just more cars. The next big challenge is how to make this a more pedestrian friendly community. Six and eight lane city streets are not pedestrian friendly and are downright dangerous.
107	Tucson is a 'pancake city' which has unfortunately sprawled too far in all direction. This has grave consequences, i.e air quality (I have asthma so this is very important to me), the amount of our land covered by asphalt, both roads and parking (increases the heat island effect, among other negative impacts), we spend too much of our lives driving from our home to our place of work, and the manner in which our neighborhoods are effected, i.e. our neighborhoods are not walkable (in general).
108	Tucson is not a 'walkable' city and it is necessary to drive EVERYWHERE. There is also a ton of stop and go traffic with not enough freeways.
109	Tucson is now revitalizing the downtown area. When my husband and I lived in Colorado in 1981, Boulder had a downtown that was pedestrian only. Tucson on the other hand is catering to the University of Arizona students with its silly trolley (oops! can't get out from the 4th avenue underpass AND around 5th avenue's tracks.)
110	Tucson is too spread out, and a bustling community center that has shops, restaurants, stores, etc. that is most importantly _walkable_ boosts community even more.
111	Tucson needs a crosstown expressway to link east to west and north to south (on the eastside). By improving roadways I also mean not only for cars but for bicyclists and pedestrians as well. Tucson has a dearth of sidewalks which makes foot travel incredibly difficult.
112	Tucson needs a walkable accessible core, with the basic services that exist but are currently lacking.
113	Tucson needs increased density, an improved downtown, and more 'walkable urban areas' - personally I would use these areas.
114	Tucson needs to be more livable - more mass transit, pedestrian corridors, bike lanes. there is too much sprawl that destroys the environment/ecosystems that make tucson unique. need more connectivity through multi-modal transportation to help local economy/businesses.
115	Very spread out. Cars are necessary because distances are not walkable
116	Walkable area with active nightlife & culture
117	We do not have adequate highway travel for a city the size of Tucson. I work in 9-1-1 fire/medical dispatch and we see an enormous amount of motor vehicle accidents, pedestrians struck, bicyclists struck, etc. I lived in Rochester, NY for 5yrs - a smaller city than Tucson - and they have at least 3 major highways that make travel from each corner of the city and its suburbs fast and convenient - one highway circles the downtown area, one runs north/south and one runs east/west. Our 16+ lane intersections that run through the city limits are hazardous and not as efficient as travel along I10 offers.
118	We do not need suh wide residential streets. We can only drive 25 down them anyway, and they increase increase the urban heat island effect. We could use more space for bike pedestrians and plants
119	What a nightmare! And very easy to solve--get rid of it! (Whoever thought it would be safer for pedestrians and bicycles must be an incredible salesman!)