Decatur Re-Designated as Walk Friendly Silver
Decatur Metro | October 14, 2015 | 9:58 am
From the Decatur Active Living department…
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has re-designated the City of Decatur a Silver Walk Friendly Community for its walkability initiatives and programs. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and FedEx, Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program aimed at recognizing communities for their commitment to pedestrian safety.
The City of Decatur, with a population around 20,000, has a strong commitment to improving pedestrian issues and walkability. All City departments work together to achieve this goal. Decatur Active Living offers a variety of programs to get the community out walking including Team Decatur, Walk With a Doc, Bright at Night Walks and Sunday Strolls. The City also has a very strong Safe Routes to School Program that is a model for the state.
The committee was also impressed with the new Unified Development Ordinance and the Downtown Decatur Streetscape Design Guidelines which help ensure that the city will continue on with its dense development pattern and active uses that attract pedestrian travel.
The City of Decatur is among three communities recognized in the latest round of Walk Friendly Communities announced. The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze to platinum, is given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies. To date, 57 communities in the U.S. have been designated as Walk Friendly Communities.
For more information on Walk Friendly Communities, please visit http://www.walkfriendly.org.
Just imagine all the accolades we’d win if pedestrians could cross E. College Ave at McDonough, Candler and Commerce without risking their lives.
Ditto for stretches of Scott
If you need a crosswalk guard and have to wear bright orange vests like in the picture, it’s not safe. How about asking how we compare to other advance countries when it comes to pedestrian safety?
This photo is from our Safe Routes to School group from the Housing Authority that walks to school in the early morning when it is sometimes dark. We are so proud of them and for our great parents who lead the way.
Feels like I’ve seen our population listed at “about 20,000” for the past 15 years or so. Is that really still our population number? Seems like it would be higher now…
Estimated at 20,400 in 2014, which means we have fewer residents today than we had from 1950 – 1970.
And amazingly, out of that 20,400, only 846 are adults.
Pedestrian-friendly streetscape designs and increasing density are not the only factors that are making Decatur a great place to walk. Even more important: the likely presence of other people and having places worth walking to.
Decatur is a terrific role model for small cities throughout the Atlanta region.
Thanks Sally- that means a lot coming from the head of PEDS!!