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Residents asked to give tips on how to make Red Deer more walkable

Red Deerians are invited to tell international experts and municipal staff how the city could be a much better place for walking.

Red Deerians are invited to tell international experts and municipal staff how the city could be a much better place for walking.

A community workshop will run on Thursday at the Walkability Roadshow Community Workshop from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the 11th floor of Executive Place at 4900 50th Ave.

Jacky Kennedy, director of Canada Walks, will be on hand. The national program seeks to create communities in which active transportation is safe, practical and inviting. She has directed many successful walking programs.

Bronwen Thornton, development director of Walk 21 in the United Kingdom, worked with Kennedy on delivering the Canadian Walkability Roadshows in 2007 and 2009. She is working with a number of European cities to support and implement walking initiatives.

Rodney Tolley, honourary research fellow at Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom, researches and publishes information when it comes to topics such as environmental traffic management. He is the editor of the 1997 book, The Greening of Urban Transport: Planning for Walking and Cycling in Western Countries.

The city has partnered with Alberta Health Services to bring the roadshow that supports improved walkability and encourages citizens to walk.

“The Roadshow and other events we have planned as part of the Integrated Movement Study will form the foundation as we transform our city,” said divisional strategist Jim Jorgensen.

The Integrated Movement Study is looking at how Red Deerians move in the city and what improvements should be made in the future. The city will engage residents, community groups and key stakeholders during this study to understand what they think about bicycling, taking transit, walking and driving in the city.

The workshop also takes place on World Car Free Day, where residents are encouraged to take advantage of free transit.

To find out more about the Integrated Movement Study and the Walkability Roadshow, visit www.reddeer.ca/whatmovesyou.