The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids

The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids | Kaid Benfield's

The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids

In a recent post on his firm’s excellent blog, PlacesShakers and NewsMakers , Scott Doyon reminds us of the “popsicle test” of a well-designed neighborhood: if an 8-year-old kid can safely go somewhere to buy a popsicle, and get back home before it melts, chances are it’s a neighborhood that works. Note that there’s no planning jargon in there: nothing explicitly about mixed uses, or connected streets, or sidewalks, or traffic calming, or enough density to put eyes on the street. But, if you think about it, it’s all there. I’m also fond of the “Halloween test”: if it’s a good neighborhood for trick-or-treating , then it’s likely to be compact and walkable. My brother-in-law, who lives in a place that is anything but, drives his kids to the nearest traditional town center on Halloween. Quite a few parents seem to do the same thing by driving to my neighborhood. Scott puts i...

Full article: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/the_popsicle_...

Tweets

@jeffroach » 25 Aug '11, 9am
RT @morganlanigan: The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link] #peoplecity #Fusionsj #Urban
@cpetersia » 23 Aug '11, 9pm
RT @thinkbigsmaller: The Popsicle test and the Halloween test as benchmarks for neighborhoods: [link]
@thinkbigsmaller » 23 Aug '11, 9pm
The Popsicle test and the Halloween test as benchmarks for neighborhoods: [link]
@vancouver_rt » 23 Aug '11, 6pm
RT @wendy_waters And RT @richard_florida: Like Toronto RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: Good #neighborhoods 4 kids = good 4 all- [link]
@wendy_waters » 23 Aug '11, 5pm
And #Vancouver RT @richard_florida: Like Toronto RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: Good #neighborhoods 4 kids = good 4 all- [link] #urbanism
@Comm_Advocates » 23 Aug '11, 5pm
RT @HelenBaderFound: RT @kaid_at_nrdc: Good neighborhoods 4 kids=good neighborhoods 4 everyone: [link] : Can your #MKE hood pass the popsicle test?
@HelenBaderFound » 23 Aug '11, 5pm
RT @kaid_at_nrdc: Good neighborhoods 4 kids=good neighborhoods 4 everyone: [link] : Can your #MKE hood pass the popsicle test?
@NedBarrett1 » 23 Aug '11, 5pm
"The popsicle test" for communities that work. via @Kaid_at_NRDC [link]
@museofhistory » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
(via @Richard_Florida) "suburban moms spend equiv of 17 full days ea year driving their kids around" [link]
@MegPopHealth » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
Good nhoods for kids are good nhoods for everybody: [link] via @Kaid_at_NRDC
@Richard_Florida » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
Urban Family Lands - Like Toronto RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: Good #neighborhoods 4 kids = good neighborhoods 4 everyone - [link]
@Kaid_at_NRDC » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
Good #neighborhoods 4 kids = good neighborhoods 4 everyone: [link] #urbanism #smartgrowth
@APAFlorida » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
A simple #popsicle test to determine #walkability in a #neighborhood [link]
@tonyjpeacock » 23 Aug '11, 4am
The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids: I'm also fond of the “Halloween test”: if it'... [link]
@HalloweenSpook » 23 Aug '11, 4am
Halloween Chatter: The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@ForterraNW » 22 Aug '11, 8pm
.@Kaid_at_NRDC on the "Popsicle Test" and "Halloween Test," two markers of quality, liveable communities. [link]
@RaysWebLaw » 22 Aug '11, 5pm
The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids ~ @NRDCSwitchboard [link]
@gonzalobf » 22 Aug '11, 4pm
The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link] #Health_and_the_Environment
@NewCapeCottages » 22 Aug '11, 4pm
Our new cottage community will pass the Popsicle Test and be a great place to Trick-or-treat! What does that mean? Read [link]
@SustEarth » 22 Aug '11, 4pm
RT @NRDC: The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@ahinz » 22 Aug '11, 3pm
"If an 8yr old can safely buy a popsicle and get back home before it melts, chances are it’s a neighborhood that works" [link]
@aribra » 22 Aug '11, 3pm
The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids: Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communit... [link]
@NRDCSwitchboard » 22 Aug '11, 3pm
The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@capntransit » 22 Aug '11, 2pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: If you have 2 drive yr kids everywhere, it's not a real neighborhood-try the popsicle test: [link] #smartgrowth #urbanplanning
@Kaid_at_NRDC » 22 Aug '11, 2pm
If you have 2 drive yr kids everywhere, it's not a real neighborhood-try the popsicle test: [link] #smartgrowth #urbanplanning
@Fred_Kent » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
RT @Richard_Florida: Urban Family Lands - Like Toronto RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: Good #neighborhoods 4 kids = good neighborhoods 4 everyone - [link]
@urbanLingo » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: Good #neighborhoods 4 kids = good neighborhoods 4 everyone - [link]
@kenf » 23 Aug '11, 4pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: Good #neighborhoods 4 kids = good neighborhoods 4 everyone: [link] #urbanism #smartgrowth
@halloweenlover2 » 23 Aug '11, 6am
#Halloween: The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@beasbasu » 23 Aug '11, 5am
RT @NRDC: The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@SustEarth » 23 Aug '11, 4am
RT @NRDC: The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@NRDC » 23 Aug '11, 4am
The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@phikapbob » 22 Aug '11, 4pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: If you have 2 drive yr kids everywhere, it's not a real neighborhood-try the popsicle test: [link] #smartgrowth #urbanplanning
@NRDC » 22 Aug '11, 3pm
The popsicle test, the Halloween test, and neighborhoods for kids [link]
@LEEDMN » 22 Aug '11, 3pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: If you have 2 drive yr kids everywhere, it's not a real neighborhood-try the popsicle test: [link] #smartgrowth #urbanplanning
@MiamiUrbanist » 22 Aug '11, 2pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: If you have 2 drive yr kids everywhere, it's not a real neighborhood-try the popsicle test: [link]
@ENbrian » 22 Aug '11, 2pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: If you have 2 drive yr kids everywhere, it's not a real neighborhood-try the popsicle test: [link] #smartgrowth #urbanplanning
@Urban_Kat » 22 Aug '11, 2pm
RT @Kaid_at_NRDC: If you have 2 drive yr kids everywhere, it's not a real neighborhood-try the popsicle test: [link] #smartgrowth #urbanplanning