Cities Bike People Walk Road Encourage Work Public

Many cities across the United States are trying to "encourage" (help someone want to do something) residents to walk and bike to work. There are cost savings associated with the "health benefits" (things that make one healthier) of greater physical activity and the reduced demand on public "infrastructure" (systems such as roads and public transportation).

Many cities focus on making it safer and more comfortable for people to walk and bike to work. For biking, this might mean "installing" (putting in) "bike paths" (narrow, paved roads for bicycles, but not for cars), "bike lanes" (a lane on a road just for bicycles, not for cars) or at least a "bike shoulder" (enough room at the edge of a road for bicycles to be ridden safely). Cities are also providing safe bike parking, including bike parking with covers in rainy areas. In many cases, cities may need to educate cyclists and drivers about bicycle safety, such as the use of "hand signals" (movements of the hand that indicate when one is stopping or turning).

To encourage more "pedestrians" (people who walk), cities sometimes need to install sidewalks, create "paved" (with a hard surface) paths through parks, and improve the labeling of "crosswalks" (where people cross the street) for safety. In very cold climates, cities might consider investing in "underground tunnels" (paths below the ground) for "foot traffic" (people who are walking). And where there is a lot of traffic, cities might need to invest in "pedestrian bridges" (paths built over a road for people to walk on to safely cross roads). Cities may also need to install additional lighting so that pedestrians feel safe even in the evening.