Second Sunday Walk is This Sunday!

June 12, 2015 by Leave a comment

valentinesJoin members of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a fun Historic Tour of Decatur on Sunday, June 14 at 2 pm. Meet in front of the Decatur Recreation Center for the “Mayor’s Tour” on the Decatur Walking Tour Map. You will pass sites such as Decatur City Hall and the DeKlab Courthouse, Beacon Municipal Center, the Historic House Complex at Adair Park and some public art such as the “Valentines.”

It will be hot, so be sure to bring a water bottle. All levels of walkers are welcome on this family friendly walking tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Bright at Night” Walk on Thursday at 7:30 pm

May 27, 2015 by Leave a comment

Walkers Bright at Night!

Walkers Bright at Night!

The community is invited to join our monthly 4th Thursday Bright at Night walk  this Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 pm. This month’s walk will venture to the northwest corner of the city to explore the neighborhood. All walks begin and end at the Decatur Recreation Center located at 231 Sycamore Street. Members of the Active Living Board Pedestrian committee will be leading the walk. Walks are family friendly and you will also receive a light to wear on your future walks. For more information on walking in Decatur, click here.

Walk There! Decatur

 

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Healthy Monday Reset: Walk All Week

May 18, 2015 by Leave a comment

 

Walk All Week

 

If you need some help getting started, join our Walk With a Doc group every Wednesday at 10:00 am. Meet in front of the Decatur Recreation Center and have a fun walk with lots of nice folks. For more information contact tracie.sanchez@decaturga.com.

The Pedestrain Advisory Committee leads Walk There! Decatur the Second Sunday of the month at 2 pm and the Fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30pm. For more information click here.

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Join us for the first Explore Decatur Walk This Sunday!

April 10, 2015 by Leave a comment

Tanyard-Community-Garden-PlansJoin us for our first Explore Decatur walk this Sunday, April 12th at 2:00pm.

As part of the new “Walk Decatur – Explore, Connect and Get Fit” campaign, the Active Living Board’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) has scheduled a series of walks around Decatur. On Sunday, April 12th, our walk will be led by Leonard Thibadeau.  Leonard is a resident gardener involved with the Tanyard Creek Community Garden, a hidden gem off of Ponce near Dancing Goats. He is an avid gardener and supporter of green spaces in Decatur. On this walk we will visit Tanyard Creek Community Garden and talk gardening along the way.  The walk starts at 2 pm in front of the Decatur Recreation Center and is suitable for all walking abilities.

For more information on this and other walks in the series visit decaturga.com/walking.  Visit facebook.com/decaturactiveliving for updates.

 

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Bright at Night Fitness Walk Thursday at 7:30 pm

March 24, 2015 by Leave a comment

Join us for our first Bright at Night fitness walk this Thursday, March 26th at 7:30pm.

 

As part of the new “Walk Decatur – Explore, Connect and Get Fit” campaign, the Active Living Board’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) has scheduled a series of walks around Decatur. The Bright at Night evening fitness walks will take place on the fourth Thursday of every month, starting this week. The walks will follow a “no drop” policy, meaning that no walkers will be left behind. This will provide an opportunity for participants of all abilities to walk for exercise in a group setting. Walks will begin and end at the Decatur Recreation Center and will include tips on pedestrian safety.  Be sure to wear your brightest clothes, reflectors and lights.

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This week’s walkers will receive a special Bright at Night light to wear!

For more information on this and other walks in the series visit decaturga.com/walking.  Visit facebook.com/decaturactiveliving for updates.

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Walk There! Decatur….New Signs Put Up Today

March 2, 2015 by 1 Comment

Thanks to Tony and Lionel from Decatur Public Works for hanging more of our  Walk There! Decatur signs this morning. New signs are located outside the Decatur Recreation Center, the Ebster Municipal Center, Decatur High School, DeKalb County Courthouse, Parking decks at The Artisan and Decatur Renaissance and the DeKalb Parking Deck.

Each sign has destinations and walking time, as well as a QR code on the front, and a map on the back side.

Walk There! Decatur encourages  people to park once, then walk to various points around Decatur instead of driving to places that are close. For example, it is only an eleven minute walk from the Decatur Recreation Center to Ebster. No need to drive and park!

 

For more information on walking in Decatur, click here.

 

 

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Walking for Healthy Weight

December 30, 2014 by Leave a comment

“Don’t plead that you haven’t time to walk. Take time.” – Minta Beach

walk thereWalking is a great way to manage weight for life. Studies show that fitness, more than fatness, is a strong indicator of longevity and well-being. When you exercise regularly, eat properly, manage stress, and enjoy the support of friends and family, your weight will find its natural, healthy point. Studies show that taking 12,000 to 15,000 steps per day helps people to achieve and keep healthy weight levels.

  • Plan to walk at least four days a week.
  • Walk a minimu of 30 consecutive minutes. Work up to an hour if possible. If this is too much to begin with, start with 10 minute increments.
  • As you become more fit, increase the intensity of your walk. Try adding short bursts of greater speed.
  • Toning muscles also increases muscle mass and raises your metabolism, or the amount of calories you burn while at rest!

 

Information from “The Walking Deck” by Shirley Archer.

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Safety Tips for Pedestrians

August 11, 2014 by 1 Comment

walking.joanne.compBe Safe and Be Seen: Make yourself visible to drivers

  • Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials.
  • Carry a flashlight when walking at night.
  • Cross the street in a well-lit area at night.
  • Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.
  • Click here for Bright at Night!

Be Smart and Alert: Avoid dangerous behaviors

  • Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
  • Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
  • Don’t assume vehicles will stop. Make contact with drivers, don’t just look at the vehicle. If a driver is on a cell phone, he or she may not be paying enough attention to drive safely.
  • Don’t rely solely on pedestrian signals. Look before you cross the road.
  • Be alert to engine noise or back up lights on cars when in parking lots and near other on-street parking spaces.

Be Careful at Crossings: Look before you step

  • Cross streets at marked crosswalk or intersections, if possible.
  • Obey traffic signals such as WALK/DON’T WALK signs.
  • Look left, right, and left again fefore crossing a street.
  • Watch for turning vehilces. Make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
  • Look across ALL lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before proceeding. Even if one motorist stops, do not presume drivers in other lanes can see you and will stop for you.
  • Don’t wear headphones or talk on a cell phone while crossing.

 

 

 

Safety Tips for Pedestrians, from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center

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New “Wonder Drug” – Walking!

December 6, 2013 by Leave a comment

ebw

From Everybody Walk:

“Researchers have discovered a “wonder drug” for many of today’s most common medical problems, Bob Sallis, MD, family practitioner, Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, Calif., told a packed room of leaders at the Every Body Walk! 2013 Walking Summit, held October 1–3, 2013 in Washington, D.C. “The drug is called walking,” Sallis announced. “Its generic name is physical activity.”

Increased levels of walking and physical activity can bring other social benefits too, said authorities from the fields of medicine, public health, education, community development, urban planning and social policy at the Walking Summit.”

New York Times agrees too and in fact suggests brisk walking is most effective. Read their take here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/why-a-brisk-walk-is-better/?_r=1&

So let’s all make an effort to walk more. And if you need a buddy to get started, we have a dozen or so walkers who walk weekly in a group at the recreation center or around downtown and the neighborhoods; drop in anytime for free. Walk With a Doc, Wed @11am.

Need to go to the library? Soccer or Basketball game? Walk There!

Run to the post office or CVS? Make it fun and Walk There!

Wear your pedometer, or just make a game of counting your steps.

Walk There Decatur- It’s closer than you think!

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Walking With City Employees

March 7, 2013 by Leave a comment

walking

City of Decatur employees invite the community to walk with us! We have scheduled our winter walks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings beginning at 5:15pm. Meet in the City Hall parking lot.

If you are interested in joining the group, contact Shirley Baylis: shirley.baylis@decaturga.com or 678-553-6500.

We look forward to walking with you!

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