INC NEWS - Walkable Communities Program Sets Triangle Workshops

[RW Pickle]

>From the City PR Dept.
RWP
27 Beverly

Discussions to Focus on Elements of a Community in Tune with Bikers and
Walkers

Durham, N.C. – Making local communities pedestrian and bicycle friendly
will be the focus of a series of five half-day workshops scheduled from
October 30 to November 2, 2006, in Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and
Hillsborough.

The sessions will be conducted by the National Center for Bicycling and
Walking in conjunction with the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan
Planning Organization.  The Walkable Community Workshop is a course for
elected officials, citizens and professionals in the planning,
engineering, law enforcement, public health and education fields. It will
provide participants with information on how to turn their communities
into pedestrian-friendly places.

The workshops focus on identifying real-world problems and hands-on
solutions for each community.  During a four-hour session, trainers
deliver a presentation on the elements of a walkable community and
solutions to common issues.  They lead participants on an interpretive
walking tour, called a “walkabout” or “ped audit,” of a pre-determined
study area.  The trainers emphasize seeing the community from the
perspective of a pedestrian or biker.

Participants will gather into small break-out groups to identify specific
measures to improve conditions for pedestrians.  The workshop closes with
presentations from the break-out groups and discussions to reach a
consensus on priority action items to create a more walkable and bikeable
environment.

The workshops will be held at the following locations:


·         Monday, October 30 – Hillsborough:  >From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
in a location to be announced.  Contact Margaret Hauth at (919) 732-1270
or margaret.hauth at hillsboroughnc.org for more information.


·         Monday, October 30 – Carrboro:  From 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in a
location to be announced.  Contact Dale McKeel at (919) 918-7329 or
dmckeel at ci.carrboro.nc.us for more information.

 
·         Tuesday, October 31 – Durham:  From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the
St. James Family Life Center, 1305 West Club Boulevard.  Contact Felix
Nwoko at (919) 560-4366 or felix.nwoko at durhamnc.gov for more information.


·         Wednesday, November 1 – Durham:  From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at
the E. D. Mickle Neighborhood Center, 1204 North Alston Avenue.  Contact
Felix Nwoko at (919) 560-4366 or felix.nwoko at durhamnc.gov for more
information.


·         Thursday, November 2 – Chapel Hill:  From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
in a location to be announced.  Contact Len Cone at
mcone at townofchapelhill.org for more information.


The workshops are free and the public is invited to participate, but seats
are limited. For information, contact Felix Nwoko, transportation planning
manager with the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
Organization, at (919) 560-4336 or felix.nwoko at durhamnc.gov.