08/31/2026
We took to the streets of Salem for a climate & safety walk audit along Parker and Proctor Streets—and the data speaks for itself! 🚶♀️🌳
From tracking heat islands to observing traffic flow, here is what we saw on the ground:
🚗 Traffic Calming: Road striping and parking enforcement have narrowed streets and slowed down cars, but driver workarounds persist. Without proper curb reveals, vehicles are steering *around* speed bumps, creating new safety hazards.
🌲 Shade Equity: Proctor Street’s tree canopy provided immediate, noticeable cooling. Using heat-mapping data, we are identifying key spots—like vacant retail lots—to plant more trees where walking residents need shade most.
⚡ Micromobility Boom: We spotted 8 different micromobility riders (e-bikes, e-motos, scooters, skateboards), and 100% of them were riding on the sidewalk because the street lacks safe infrastructure and bike parking.
With the Parker Street project on the horizon, now is the time to build connected networks, add curb protections, and make Salem walkable and cool for everyone. 🛠️✨
What street in your neighborhood needs a safety & shade upgrade next? Sound off in the comments! 👇
