What to know
- Presentation Day/Time: Thursday, April 25, 1:40 pm
- Presenter: Heather MacLeish, MPH, MS, BSN, EIS officer assigned to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
TED-Style Talks
As a person with epilepsy (an invisible disability) who cannot drive, I will share my story navigating unsafe streets and unreliable transit and the hurdles I have had to navigate when leaving my home to travel to everyday destinations.
30% of all US residents do not have a driver's license yet still need access to everyday destinations such as work, medical appointments, and the grocery store. Walking is a fundamental mode of transportation for non-drivers and the most common physical activity in the US for adults 15 years and older.
From 2013 to 2022 the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes increased by 57%, indicating that the danger posed to pedestrians on our streets is of increased public health concern for populations who rely on walking to commute. When sidewalks and bike lanes are incorporated into streets through policies such as Complete Streets and Vision Zero, road deaths for pedestrians, bikers, and cars have reliably decreased.
I will educate the audience about the need for pedestrian infrastructure so that everyone can safely get to everyday destinations.
Abstract Category: TED-Style Talks