BikeWalkLee becomes AmericaWalks partner

BikeWalkLee joins hundreds of other organizations who have partnered with America Walks, a national resource which fosters walkable communities by engaging, educating, and connecting walking advocates.

 The mission of America Walks is to make America a great place for walking by working collaboratively to share knowledge, advance policies and implement effective campaigns to promote safe, convenient and accessible walking conditions for all.  Their mission is consistent with BikeWalkLee's vision for Lee County--to become a complete streets model community whose integrated and safe cycling and walking network inspires people of all ages, income groups and fitness levels to cycle and walk for transportation and recreation, and where public transportation is available and accessible to citizens and visitors alike. 

Partners of America Walks support changes in the built environment to encourage walking as a means of achieving healthy, efficient, equitable, socially inclusive and sustainable communities. Click here to see the list of hundreds of America Walks partners.

America Walks Vision Statement for a Walkable America:

By 2020, walking in everyday life is embraced across America. Streets and neighborhoods are safe and attractive public places that encourage people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, and incomes to walk for exercise, recreation, and transportation. Walkable community policies promote health, economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and social equity.

Principles for a Walkable America

Walkability is defined by the following key principles:

1. People of all abilities can safely walk and move along and across all streets in their communities.
2. Communities of all sizes are designed so that most people can walk comfortably to places where they work, study, shop, play, and pray.
3. States, counties, and cities revise existing transportation and development policies, standards, and programs to encourage walking, bicycling, and transit use.
4. Transportation and development design decisions explicitly consider public health outcomes.

Check out their website for the many resources available to partners.