Celebrate Maryland’s Official Exercise with Walktober!
Walking is an activity that’s part of daily life for many Marylanders, and is recognized as a healthful transportation choice. In fact, walking is Maryland’s official state exercise! But with issues of pedestrian safety and access, many communities recognize walking – and improving the walkability of our neighborhoods – are goals that require public attention and action.
Join us for Maryland’s first ever WALKTOBER, a month where the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and partnering agencies will promote and host events and webinars spotlighting Maryland pedestrian safety, health and commuting options in current walk programs and initiatives.
Throughout October, working in coordination with several state agencies and other partners, MDOT will share informational resources and a series of free webinars – or Walkinars – that are open to all. The month also includes Walk Maryland Day on October 7, a celebration that encourages all Marylanders to step out to enjoy walking or some other form of physical activity.
Throughout Walktober, you can learn how to support walking and walkability in your community, and how to partner with others to help identify and address issues related to safety and accessibility across the state.
The Walkinar series is tailored to interest pedestrian enthusiasts, advocates, planners and residents. These free, 90-minute Walkinars will highlight how we can collectively rally around walking, an activity that is both central to the state’s active transportation efforts and a critical strategy to promote public well-being.
The Walktober Walkinar series, hosted by the Maryland Department of Planning, will help planners, local officials, stakeholders and the public at large learn how to advocate for safe walking infrastructure. Panelists will identify key resources to build, strengthen and sustain local partnerships and share new tools and technologies being used across the country to identify and plan for pedestrian-accessible routes for all ages and abilities.
All webinars will be held 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST Thursdays, October 1, 15, 22 and 29. See the specifics below.
Participants in each live broadcast “Walkinar” are also eligible to receive 1.5 Certification Maintenance (CM) credits from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) to support their professional planning certification
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Walkinar #1: What Can We Do to Advance Walking and Walkability?
October 1, 2020
What can we do to advance walking and walkability in Maryland? What can we do to advance walking and walkability in Maryland? MDOT Secretary Greg Slater will kick off and introduce the series, as Danielle Arigoni, Ian Thomas and Marty Baker identify trends and resources that support walking and walkability in Maryland. They will share insights about advocating for pedestrian safety and establishing walk programs for all ages, as well as explain how you can work to improve walking
opportunities in your community.
Panelists:
- Danielle Arigoni, Director of Livable Communities, AARP
- Ian Thomas, State and Local Program Director, America Walks
- Marty Baker, Deputy Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning, MDOT
Walkinar #2: Pedestrian Infrastructure, Safety, and Health
October 15, 2020
MDOT Secretary Greg Slater will introduce the second webinar in the series, followed by featured speakers Jeff Dunckel, Kandese Holford and a representative of the Maryland Department of Health. The panel will examine trends in pedestrian safety in Maryland, discuss major efforts underway across the state to recognize the importance of walking and walkability and explain how improving pedestrian connectivity supports public health and safety.
Panelists:
- Jeff Dunckel, MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration
- Kandese Holford, MDOT State Highway Administration
- A representative from the Maryland Department of Health
Walkinar #3: New Trends and Technologies to Support Walkability and Walking
October 22, 2020
The third in our series of Walktober Walkinars begins with a brief introduction by MDOT Secretary Greg Slater. Featured guests Hank Greenberg, Anat Caspi, Victor Rodriguez and Dan Hudson will identify several recent technical innovations and tools that help local communities identify pedestrian-accessible routes, facilitate pedestrian partnerships and support walk equity.
Panelists:
- Hank Greenberg, AARP Maryland
- Anat Caspi, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, Taskar Center for Accessible Technology
- Victor Juan Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer, WaBu
- Dan Hudson, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Walkinar #4: Maryland Community Walk Initiatives “Walking the Walk of Maryland’s Pedestrian Agenda”
October 29, 2020
This fourth and final Walktober webinar includes welcome remarks from MDOT Secretary Greg Slater. The session will share information about many local walk initiatives in Maryland, how they function and how other communities can learn from their successes. Cara Rozaieski, Tracey Greene Gordy, Sandra Brecher and Chris Eatough will share what several local communities are doing to inspire new thinking and action … and to get more people walking in Maryland.
Panelists:
- Cara Rozaieski, Wicomico County Health Department
- Tracey Greene Gordy, Maryland Department of Planning
- Sandra Brecher, Montgomery County Department of Transportation
- Chris Eatough, Howard County Office of Transportation
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of walking as a critical aspect of human well-being, not only for transportation and access, but active recreation and exercise. So, we’ll be pleased to see everyone out there (even if joining virtually or at a distance) wearing masks, keeping proper physical distance, and following all the health protocols that we know are so important to Maryland’s recovery.
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To learn more about Walktober, Walk Maryland Day, and our partnering agencies, please click here!
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