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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Argument over stolen guns led to first shooting, Monica says Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial Monica: Pigs 'always need something to eat' Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Medford man sentenced to 8 years for 2014 rape Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Argument over stolen guns led to first shooting, Monica says Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial Monica: Pigs 'always need something to eat' Medford man sentenced to 8 years for 2014 rape Emergency services Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Education New Medford middle school would offer Montessori approach Mae Richardson Elementary turns 50 Prepping before 9th grade Shumate says initiatives will require reserve spending Eagle Point school district violated union members' constitutional rights, federal judge says Environment Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Sugar Pine Mine co-owner: "Please stop calling the BLM and threatening their personnel" Oath Keepers say they'll defend contested mining claim on BLM land Central Point's Arbor Day project will provide shade along Mingus Creek State News Ex-Daimler Portland engineer files $2 million discrimination suit Mannix-backed measure targets taxes Oregon committee hears bill preventing child access to guns Water shortage hits riverfront city Oregon decides to buy $25 million in wildfire insurance Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Death Notices Ola May (Grimm) Stoner Andy Welburn Sharon "Sue" Cole Anna Mae Hassell Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Pacquiao fights back at Mayweather jabs Phelps qualifies fastest for 100 fly SOU to host meet for first time in five years Oregon recruits leave their options open S.O. Speedway season kicks off Saturday Varsity 541 College Sports SOU to host meet for first time in five years Oregon recruits leave their options open Mahalak serving his time with Ducks Recovered lineman George plays catch-up Bowl game payouts surpass $500 million Pro Sports Pacquiao fights back at Mayweather jabs Hurtin' Blazers First-place Rockies sweep Giants Pelicans in, Thunder out on final day Limping to Memphis Community Sports Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Zombies join in the horror produced by local game companies Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Cars We Remember: 1964 Olds F-85 owner seeks information Real Estate News Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Erickson shores up business with three contracts Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark Agriculture New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Mark L. Hopkins: Your university in the top 20 Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later Our View: Gun background check bill is worth passing Letters to the Editor, April 16 Editorials Our View: Gun background check bill is worth passing Our View: Don't expect a fix for I-5 viaduct through Medford anytime soon Our View: Minimum wage boost is no panacea Our View: Medford School District's new spending appears prudent Other Views: Keep Klamath water plan moving in Congress Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 16 Letters to the Editor, April 15 Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Letters to the Editor, April 12 Columns Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later George Will: Sustainability gone wild Dana Milbank: The GOP push for a permanent aristocracy Kathleen Parker: Hillary vs. Marco: ring in the olde? Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Lifestyle Latest stories Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Tammy Kelly: Soft-shell crab is in season Carol Link: Tea olive shrubs can be propagated from new growth Community blog: Orange-blossom water enhances honey syrup Religion News: John Travolta defends Scientology Food Tammy Kelly: Soft-shell crab is in season Community blog: Orange-blossom water enhances honey syrup High on flavor, low on calories: Cookbook offers tasty options for people trying to eat healthier Prudence Hilburn: Test-kitchen products become ‘secret’ specialties Community blog: Leave fruits whole for crumbles in a time crunch Home and Garden Carol Link: Tea olive shrubs can be propagated from new growth 12 ways ceiling fans keep you comfortable and save cash Dear Monty: Profiting with adaptive re-use Paul Rogers: Schedule your time wisely Home Help: 3 upgrades to help give your bathroom spa-like panache Health Book Notes: A big body is not a bad body Go get physical Community blog: Better Living By Design: A Symposium You Must Not Miss Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Dr. Jeff Hersh: Distracted driving Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Theater Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Music Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Theory of a Deadman, Brett Eldredge headliners at Jackson County Fair Jef Fretwell & Friends at The Wild Goose Cafe The Rhythm Kings at Howiee's in Medford Community Events Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art 'BRAND,' 'Western' among Ashland Independent Film Festival award winners Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Dining Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Standing Stone owners to open Medford brewpub and restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial ... Monica: Pigs 'always need something to eat' ... Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior ... Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial ... Monica: Pigs 'always need something to eat' ... Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Comment By Jenna Stanke Marmon and Dan Thorndike MailTribune.com By Jenna Stanke Marmon and Dan Thorndike Posted Apr. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Jenna Stanke Marmon and Dan Thorndike Posted Apr. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Evidence is mounting that it makes sense to rethink our streets and remove barriers to walking and biking. Local jurisdictions should take note and we should support their efforts. On average, three out of 10 trips we make are less than a mile (a short walk) and half of our trips are less than 3 miles (a short bike ride), yet two-thirds of these trips are made by car. How would improving our streets to create a system of safe, comfortable and convenient walking and biking connections change how we move through our communities and how would we all benefit? Health is one of the most significant ways. Providing active transportation options that serve everyone from a mom heading to school with kids in tow to a retired couple heading to the farmers market has vast benefits to our physical and mental health. ODOT and the Oregon Health Authority should be commended for formally recognizing that the health of our community members is inextricably linked to our transportation system and for providing a mechanism to consider health in transportation decisions. The statistics are alarming. According to the American Public Health Association, the costs of traffic crashes, air pollution and physical inactivity resulting from our transportation system total well over $400 billion annually. Traffic crashes claim on average 30,000 lives nationally and 300 in Oregon. More than one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, and the 8-year-olds of today are the first generation predicted to have a shorter lifespan than their parents, largely because of diseases related to inactivity. For these reasons and more, communities around the state and around the country are rethinking their transportation systems to provide better options for people to take transit, walk and bike to where they want to go. Medford, with the help of Connect Oregon funding, continues their efforts to extend the Larson Creek Greenway, a critical facility that provides an alternate route to Barnett Road and connects one of the largest employment and health care areas in the city with the Bear Creek Greenway, the 20-mile spine of our regional non-motorized transportation system. Several local jurisdictions have completed on-street projects that improve key connections and remove barriers between destinations, and many have plans in place for future improvements. But there’s much more to do to attract the 60 percent of the public who are interested in bicycling but hesitant to ride next to traffic, and the people who want to walk to the store but are hesitant to cross a major intersection on their route. Retrofitting our existing system will not be easy, but it is imperative to connecting key destinations. One opportunity is to reduce speeds on our streets. Speed plays a huge role in fatality rates. A pedestrian struck at 40 mph has a 15 percent chance of survival, but a pedestrian hit at 20 mph has a 95 percent chance of survival. Speed also determines the comfort level for people walking and biking, and fortunately, there are ways to reduce travel speeds that have minimal impact on travel times through a corridor. Reducing travel lane widths in urban areas to 10 feet (for reference, the standard freeway lane is 12 feet) can help slow speeds. Road diets that reallocate travel lanes on roadways reduce speeds. Both are simple, cost-effective measures that can provide additional room for sidewalks and bike lanes and make travel safer for all road users. Along with a quality transit system, these improvements not only save lives, they also attract millennials who demand alternatives to driving and the businesses who desire the talent and creativity that millenials bring to the workforce. Likewise, they attract baby boomers who are increasingly looking to retire in areas where hanging up their keys won’t result in being homebound. Lastly, they help create vibrant downtowns by reducing demands for parking and cars while improving the environment for people and businesses. In fact, projects that create multi-modal streets have been shown to have significant return on investment because they reduce crashes and are also associated with increased property values and higher employment numbers. We have come a long way and have the bones for a great regional multi-modal system. But critical gaps remain that create uncomfortable and unsafe situations for people walking and biking. Let's work together to invest in transportation options for all of our community members, which will improve our health, the health of our economy and the health of our next generation. Jenna Stanke Marmon is chairwoman of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Dan Thorndike, general counsel for Medford Fabrication, is a bicycle commuter and a member of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Policy Advisory Committee. By Jenna Stanke Marmon and Dan Thorndike MailTribune.com By Jenna Stanke Marmon and Dan Thorndike Posted Apr. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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