The University of Maryland Extension is partnering with the Maryland Department of Transportation to sponsor the annual Walk Maryland Day, as well as Walktober, a full month dedicated to health, safety and education for pedestrians and drivers, to build safer, more sustainable communities in Maryland.
Walktober events include four “Walkinars” -- online webinars about pedestrian-related topics in Maryland -- and Walk Maryland Day on Oct. 5, 2022. This year’s Walkinars cover a variety of topics regarding public safety, city planning, neighborhood equitability, and “Walking and Public Health,” a panel discussion including UME senior agent Dhruti Patel on the mental and physical benefits walking brings to Maryland communities.
“Our partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation is ideal for helping Maryland communities find safe and healthy ways to get outdoors and get exercise,” said Patel. “Walking provides physical and mental health benefits, not only for us individually, but for our communities.”
Walkinars allow American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) participants to earn 1.5 CEU credits. Interested participants can register for the free online Walkinars at https://go.umd.edu/walkinars.
The Governor’s Proclamation for the annual month-long celebration highlights the fact that walking is Maryland’s official state exercise and the event educates the public on the need for safe and accessible neighborhoods. Learn more about public walks throughout the state, sign up to lead, or join a walk in Maryland on October 5 at https://mdot.maryland.gov/tso/pages/Index.aspx?PageId=79.
To learn more about the UME-MDOT partnership, Walktober and Walk Maryland Day, or to find a list of public trails open to walkers at any time, go to https://extension.umd.edu/resource/walktober.
