Reading

Streets for People

Walking is a great way to get around. For short trips, for exercise, or just for fun, walking can be better than driving or riding. But in many cities, walking can also be dangerous. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are a danger to pedestrians, and sometimes there are accidents.

David Engwicht, from Brisbane, Australia, wants to do something about this. His book, Reclaiming Our Cities and Towns, has a simple message: We need to take back our streets and make them better places for walking.

In the past, Engwicht says, streets belonged to everybody. Children played there, and people walked to work or to stores. Now, however, most city engineers design streets for vehicles. People stay inside buildings to get away from the crowded sidewalks, the noisy streets, and the dangerous traffic. Unfortunately, this gives them less contact with their neighbors.

Many cities are working to make their streets safer for pedestrians. There are new crosswalks on the streets and more traffic lights and bicycle lanes. The city of Florence, Italy, only allows cars and buses with special permits to drive on its historic city streets. In Boston, US, the Slow Streets Program gives some neighborhoods more stop signs and a 20 mph (32 kph) speed limit.

Engwicht travels around the world, helping people think differently about pedestrians, streets, and neighborhoods. Whether we live in a small town or a city with a population in the millions, Engwicht says we should think of streets as our “outdoor living room.” Changing the traffic is just the beginning.

In the future, streets may again be safe places for people, and walking will be an even better form of transportation than it is now.

accident (n) something harmful or unpleasant that happens by surprise

sidewalk (n) a path with a hard surface along the side of a street

crosswalk (n) a place where drivers must stop to let pedestrians cross a street

lane (n) a part of a street that is marked with painted lines

permit (n) an official document that allows you to do something

Answer:

Đường phố dành cho Người đi bộ

Đi bộ là cách tuyệt vời để di chuyển. Đối với những chuyến đi ngắn, tập thể dục hoặc chỉ để vui chơi, đi bộ có thể tốt hơn là lái xe hoặc đi xe. Tuy nhiên, ở nhiều thành phố, đi bộ cũng có thể nguy hiểm. Xe hơi, xe tải và xe máy là mối nguy hiểm đối với người đi bộ và đôi khi xảy ra tai nạn.

David Engwicht, đến từ Brisbane, Úc muốn làm điều gì đó về vấn đề này. Cuốn sách của ông, Reclaiming Our Cities and Towns, có một thông điệp đơn giản: Chúng ta cần lấy lại đường phố và biến chúng thành những nơi tốt hơn cho việc đi bộ.

Trước đây, Engwicht nói, đường phố thuộc về mọi người. Trẻ em chơi đùa ở đó, và mọi người đi bộ đến nơi làm việc hoặc đến cửa hàng. Tuy nhiên, hiện nay, hầu hết các kỹ sư thành phố thiết kế đường phố cho các phương tiện giao thông. Mọi người ở trong các tòa nhà để tránh xa những vỉa hè đông đúc, những con đường ồn ào và giao thông nguy hiểm. Thật không may, điều này khiến cho họ có ít liên lạc hơn với hàng xóm của mình.

Nhiều thành phố đang làm việc để đường phố của họ an toàn hơn cho người đi bộ. Có các vạch kẻ đường mới trên đường phố và nhiều đèn giao thông và làn đường xe đạp hơn. Thành phố Florence, Italy, chỉ cho phép các xe ô tô và xe buýt có giấy phép đặc biệt được lái trên những con đường lịch sử của nó. Tại Boston, Mỹ, chương trình Slow Streets Program đưa ra một số khu vực có nhiều biển stop và giới hạn tốc độ là 20 mph (32 kph).

Engwicht đi khắp thế giới, giúp đỡ mọi người nghĩ khác về người đi bộ, đường phố và khu vực xung quanh. Cho dù chúng ta sống ở một thị trấn nhỏ hay một thành phố với dân số hàng triệu người, Engwicht nói rằng chúng ta nên coi đường phố là “phòng khách ngoài trời” của mình. Thay đổi lưu lượng chỉ là khởi đầu.

A. Look at the topics in the box. In pairs, talk about how easy it is to do these things in your city.

(Nhìn vào các chủ đề trong hộp. Theo cặp, nói về việc làm những việc này dễ dàng như thế nào trong thành phố của bạn)

eating out finding a park going to school

walking in your neighborhood

Answer:

• Eating out:

In Ha Noi, there are many options for eating out, from street food vendors to high-end restaurants. It is generally easy to find food options that are affordable and delicious.

• Finding a park:

Ha Noi has many parks and green spaces, including the famous Hoan Kiem Lake and West Lake. These parks are often located in the city center and are easily accessible by public transportation or on foot.

• Going to school:

Ha Noi has a well-developed education system, with many primary schools, secondary schools, and universities located throughout the city. However, traffic congestion can make getting to school challenging during rush hour.

• Walking in your neighborhood:

Ha Noi is a bustling city with many narrow streets and alleys, making it easy to explore on foot. However, some sidewalks can be narrow and uneven, and traffic can be chaotic, so it's important to be aware of your surroundings when walking in the city.

B. Scan the reading to find the information.

(Quét bài đọc để tìm thông tin)

1. The name of a person: _________________________

2. The title of a book: _________________________

3. The names of three cities: _________________________

Answer:

1. The name of a person: David Engwicht

2. The title of a book: Reclaiming Our Cities and Towns

3. The names of three cities: Brisbane, Florence, Boston

C. Read the article. Circle the correct options.

(Đọc bài báo. Vòng tròn các lựa chọn chính xác)

1. Walking in cities can be ____________

a. slow b. fun c. dangerous

2. Engwicht wants cities to be better for ___________

a. pedestrians b. vehicles c. tourists

3. Nowadays, people have ____________ contact with their neighbors.

a. more b. less c. online

4. __________ is working to make its streets safer.

a. Brisbane b. Boston c. Tokyo

Answer:

1. Walking in cities can be ____________

c. dangerous

2. Engwicht wants cities to be better for ___________

a. pedestrians

3. Nowadays, people have ____________ contact with their neighbors.

b. less

4. __________ is working to make its streets safer.

b. Boston

D. What do the following words refer to in the article?

(Những từ sau đây đề cập đến điều gì trong bài viết?)

1. them (paragraph 2)

2. this (paragraph 3)

3. it (paragraph 5)

Answer:

1. "them" in paragraph 2 refers to pedestrians.

2. "this" in paragraph 3 refers to taking back the streets and making them better places for walking.

3. "it" in paragraph 5 refers to the Slow Streets Program.

E. Discuss the questions in pairs.

(Thảo luận các câu hỏi theo cặp)

1. How much walking do you usually do?

2. Where do you usually walk?

3. Do you feel safe when you are walking? Explain.

Answer:

1. How much walking do you usually do?

Sample Response:

Person 1: I try to walk at least 30 minutes a day.

Person 2: I don't walk that much, maybe 10-15 minutes a day.

2. Where do you usually walk?

Sample Response:

Person 1: I usually walk around my neighborhood, to the park, and to the grocery store.

Person 2: I walk mostly in the city center, around shopping areas, and to work.

3. Do you feel safe when you are walking? Explain.

Sample Response:

Person 1: I feel safe when I'm walking during the daytime, but not so much at night.

Person 2: I usually feel safe when I'm walking, but it depends on the area. If it's a quiet, dark street, I might feel a bit uneasy.

Goal check

Your city wants to improve pedestrian safety. Rank the safety measures from 1 (most helpful) to 5 (least helpful). Then, in pairs, compare and discuss your answers.

_______ more or better crosswalks

_______ lower speed limits

_______ fewer cars in the city

_______ more or better sidewalks

_______ (your idea)

Answer:

1. More or better sidewalks: This measure can increase the physical space for pedestrians, separate them from vehicles, and provide a safe and comfortable walking environment.

2. More or better crosswalks: Crosswalks allow pedestrians to cross streets more safely and can improve visibility for both drivers and pedestrians. They can also help to direct pedestrian traffic and reduce jaywalking.

3. Lower speed limits: Lowering the speed limit can reduce the severity of accidents and give drivers more time to react to unexpected situations.

4. Fewer cars in the city: Reducing the number of vehicles in the city can decrease the likelihood of accidents and improve air quality. This can be done through carpooling, public transportation, or encouraging alternative modes of transportation such as cycling.

5. Other ideas: This could include measures such as increased lighting in pedestrian areas, road design changes to reduce conflicts between drivers and pedestrians, or educational campaigns to promote safe walking habits.