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BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
The Daily Reveille
Friday, March 23, 2012
Walkability audit assesses condition of Nicholson, downtown Shannon Roberts Contributing Writer
Community members and University faculty conducted a walkability audit Thursday afternoon around the Nicholson and downtown Baton Rouge areas to discuss safety issues and possible solutions for sidewalks and neighborhoods. A walkability audit is a formal evaluation of an area using tools and notes to suggest improvement, assistant kinesiology professor Birgitta Baker said. The audit conducted by the University was less formal, but it involved participants rating the areas they walked through, discussing why they feel the area deserves that rating and suggesting ideas to better the
PRIMARY, from page 1
of God’ — all this stuff that the Romney campaign floats out, it’s just rhetoric.” Rasmussen Reports released Thursday the results of a telephone survey, which was conducted Wednesday, of 750 likely GOP primary voters in Louisiana. The survey recorded 43-percent support for Santorum, while Mitt Romney held 31 percent. Coming in third was Newt Gingrich with 16 percent, while Ron Paul trailed
sidewalks, neighborhoods and transportation. Members of the University and surrounding communities were concerned about possible redevelopments along the Nicholson Corridor, Baker said. “We really feel like this is an issue that’s really relevant right now,” Baker said. A group of participants boarded a bus from Tiger Stadium, making a route that included the corner of Nicholson and Azalea, University Terrace Elementary School and downtown near Third Street. The group was led by national public health, planning and transportation consultant Mark Fenton, who asked the group to think of ratings from zero to 10 for the sidewalks and neighborhoods they
walked through. After walking through the Nicholson area to the elementary school, Fenton asked for responses as to why they ranked the neighborhood as low as a zero. Answers ranged from overgrown grass in the sidewalks to trash cans sitting in the middle of the sidewalk and even missing chunks of concrete. Participants said they felt downtown Baton Rouge was more pedestrian-friendly because of the amount of sidewalks, outdoor seating, green space and slower vehicles. Baker said she hopes the walk will spark public interest and inspire people to think about solutions, especially University students. “Students can be a very
powerful voice for change,” Baker said. Fenton spoke in a lecture concerning the lack of physical activity among Americans in the Holliday Forum on Thursday evening. Fenton said only 20 percent of Americans meet the requirement of exercising 30 minutes daily, and this lack of physical activity is supported by a lack of destinations within walking, biking and public transit distances. He said those who use public transit systems walk at least 19 minutes compared to those who drive to their destinations. “The 21st century communities that are thriving right now … have transit systems that they are dedicated to,” Fenton said. “The 21st century cities have 21st
century transit systems.” LSU Police Department spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde said there are no predictors as to times of the year when accidents between vehicles and bicycles or pedestrians are likely to occur. He named the Nicholson Extension near Patrick F. Taylor Hall, South Campus Drive near the ceramics shops and the Highland and Dalrymple areas as chief areas where accidents are most likely to occur. “For 2012, we have worked a total of 105 traffic crashes,” Lalonde said. “Of that 105, four of them were involving pedestrians, and one was involving a bicycle.”
with 5 percent. Following Santorum’s wins in the Alabama and Mississippi primaries, some students predict he will take Louisiana, as well. Biology sophomore Seth McVea said he agrees with Santorum’s policies. Though McVea said Romney also has a chance to win the state, he thinks Louisiana voters will favor Santorum’s conservative stance. “Romney’s conservative, but not like Santorum is,” he said. “It’s
hard for Romney to stand for conservative beliefs when he’s that wealthy.” After viewing recent polls, Nick George, biology sophomore, said he also thinks Santorum will win Louisiana, but he’ll be supporting Romney. “Out of the choice, [Romney] is the best,” he said. “He has better policies and better plans compared to the other GOP candidates.” While Gingrich has lagged behind in past primaries, George said Gingrich may have a better
chance at winning Louisiana than Romney. “He’s from the South, and more people may be able to relate with him,” he said. “The South is also really conservative Christian, and because Romney is Mormon, he may not have Louisiana’s support.” But McVea said Gingrich’s personal life, especially his divorces, may dissuade Louisiana voters from supporting him. “Louisiana has strong morals and family values,” McVea said.
“That stuff may not fly in Louisiana.” But some Louisiana voters find themselves on the fence. Alex Bossetta, business administration sophomore, said she plans to vote in the primary, but she is still undecided. “I think Romney will win Louisiana, but I still don’t know who I’m voting for,” she said.
Contact Shannon Roberts at sroberts@lsureveille.com
Contact Kate Mabry at kmabry@lsureveille.com