We talk a lot about walkability here on DM and that’s a good thing. But one thing I’ve noticed is that we tend to focus predominantly on the mechanics — is it physically possible and reasonably safe to walk from one place to another?

Don’t get me wrong. The proper infrastructure — sidewalks, crosswalks, signalization — is important, but it’s a mistake to think it’s enough to compel meaningful changes in people’s lifestyles. That’s the kind of thinking that leads one to suggest that DeKalb Industrial Blvd. has, now that they’ve laid sidewalks, become some sort of pedestrian paradise.

It hasn’t.

What it has become is a marginally safer environment for pedestrians without choices. And that’s not the same thing. Because what really defines walkability is its ability to compete as a viable mode of transportation.

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West Trinity Place, Decatur GA (pic submitted by Andisheh)

From the Decatur Book Festival…

Best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Joshilyn Jackson and Clyde Edgerton are among a half- dozen writers being “auctioned” off for charity next month in Decatur, Ga.

The authors – all of whom are appearing at the Decatur Book Festival Sept. 2-4 – agreed to spend 1 hour with the highest bidder, enjoying drinks and conversation at Decatur’s famous Brick Store Pub. Fans can place their bids on eBay until Aug. 24 (search term: “Book the Brick”).

Sponsored by the festival and the Decatur Education Foundation, the “Book the Brick” auction was designed to raise money for youth literacy programs in the community. Winning bidders also receive a signed copy of the author’s latest book.

Other authors participating include Hollywood stuntman Hal Needham, director of “Smokey and the Bandit” and now author of “Stuntman!”; teen / tween author Lauren Myracle, whose latest book is “Shine”; Susan Rebecca White, author of “A Soft Place to Land” and “Bound South”; and Atlanta writer and satirist Andisheh Nouraee, co-author of “Americapedia.”

Winning bidders may bring a guest. For details, visit www.DecaturEducationFoundation.org.

Looking at the Ebay list at this very moment, all auctions are starting at $100.

You may recall that the city put out an RFP back in June for a new company to to upgrade, operate and maintain the city’s existing municipal WiFi network.

Welp, on the docket for tonight’s city commission meeting – partnering with Brightlan LLC to take over operation of the network from GTS, who has been operating the network since 2007.

According to a letter from Asst. City Manager Andrea Arnold to City Manager Peggy Merriss (page 55 of the meeting materials)…

“Brightlan is a Georgia owned and operated internet service provider”, who’s wireless networks “cover much of north Georgia.”

Brightlan installed municipal wireless networks in Hapeville and Dublin and serves as the ISP for the City of Hapeville’s wireless network.  Brightlan’s references were positive and emphasized their technical skills as well as their quality customer service.

(Here’s the Hapeville Wi-Fi webpage if you’re interested.)

According to Ms. Arnold’s note, Brightlan will take on marketing and customer acquisition, subscription services, equipment deployment and network modifications, network maintenance and a revenue share with the City.  Arnold states that Brightlan is “committed to strengthening the network and making improvements to its reliability and bandwidth.”

Back when it was originally deployed, many of the criticisms revolving around Decatur’s Wi-Fi investment were predicated on the fact that Wi-Fi would become an outdated model in just a few years.  Well, that hasn’t really happened as quickly as many of those criticisms assumed.  So, if Decatur can find a company that can provide reliable wireless internet access at a discounted rate to residents, it still has the potential to be successful.

However, there are still many hurdles to leap over – tree-interference and the general usability of the login pages being just two of ‘em.

Co-owner Kristin Allin tells DM that Cakes & Ale will reopen to the public at its new Decatur Square location (HERE) this Tuesday night.

As for the bakery, Kristin says they’ll be doing a “soft opening throughout the week”.

Thanks to altmod for the heads up!