October has been dubbed Walktober by Seattle-based Feet First, a group that promotes walking — to school, to work, and just for fun.
“Everybody walks. Making it easier, safer and more accessible is a core of our mission and kind of at the heart of transportation,” said Lisa Quinn, Feet First executive director.
Encouraging more people to walk and making it easier and safer lines up with state and federal transportation goals, too.
A 5 percent increase in neighborhood walkability is associated with 6.5 percent fewer vehicle miles traveled per capita, according to a Puget Sound Regional Council report.
Walkable communities also are healthier communities, as well as safer and more connected, Quinn said.
In Snohomish County, much of Feet First’s work has been at the south end. It also is exploring “walking audits” with Community Transit.
The group is particularly interested in helping neighborhoods develop walking maps, which “do a deeper dive of what’s of interest and what you can only see by foot, like public art or an interesting shortcut you can only see by foot.”
One of the more interesting ideas for the workplace is a walking meeting — stepping away from the conference room table and taking the discussions to the sidewalk or trail.
Verdant Health Commission has organized several walking programs with Feet First as well as the cities of Lynnwood and Brier.
“One of our goals here at Verdant is to encourage people to be physically active. Walking is really the simplest way, without any equipment required,” said Jennifer Piplic, a spokesperson.
Walking can help decrease the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes.
To further encourage walking, Verdant plans to continue the group walks it started this summer.
Its next “Trails to Transit” group walks are set for Oct. 8, 22 and 24, starting at 9 a.m. from the Verdant Community Wellness Center, 4710 196th St. SW in Lynnwood.
Piplic helped lead some of the earlier walks.
“They were fun,” she said. “We traveled through two Lynnwood parks, down another trail, and folks who had lived in this community for decades had never ventured into some of those parks. And to see how it connected and where you ended up when you came out on the other side of the park was a really great experience for a lot of people.”
Verdant helped Brier build a loop trail at Brier Park. The loop is one of four key walking routes now detailed on a Brier walking map. A new Brier On the Move Challenge encourages residents to get out and stroll, racking up miles on their Fitbits or city-provided pedometers to compete for prizes.
Where to walk
More information about area walking groups and programs:
Brier On the Move Challenge, www.ci.brier.wa.us
Lynnwood Trails to Transit group walks, verdanthealth.org
Feet First group walks, www.meetup.com/Feet-First-Walks
Sound Steppers Volkssport Club, www.soundsteppers.org
Friends-in-Fitness Mall Walking Club, Everett Mall, www.shopeverettmall.com
Stroller Strides, active in Everett, Lake Stevens, Mill Creek, Lynnwood and Edmonds, fit4mom.com
Have a question? Email us at streetsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your first and last name and city of residence. Look for updates on the Street Smarts blog.
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