Raleigh city leaders approve walking program

Walk [Raleigh] is a Raleigh-based company that assists communities with promoting walkability. The program posts wayfinding signage that identifies locations throughout the community and the estimate time to walk there.

The signage, combined with an Internet-based campaign management and data collection, have helped promote walkability in 75 cities around the world.

Sig Hutchinson, a member of Raleigh's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, said the concept is simple.

“If you give your citizens information about how far it is to a location and point them in the right direction, they'll actually do it,” he said.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is partnering with Walk [Raleigh] to develop campaigns in three cities across the state to promote wellness.

The initiative will allow Raleigh to receive signage and technical support, and serve as the pilot project for the partnership. In return, Raleigh will commit resources in planning, promoting and implementing the Walk [Raleigh] campaign alongside program representatives.