Since Gov. Jim Justice ordered most businesses to close as part of his COVID-19 response, a lot more people are taking walks — and that has its benefits.
Walking is good for you, builds community, gets people in touch with the environment and deters crime, according to Matthew Cross, Chairman of the Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board.
Cross said he’s seen an increase in both neighborhood walkers and walkers taking advantage of the city’s hiking paths, such as those in White Park or the rail trail.
“Why drive to Cheat Lake and go to the gym when you can walk around the neighborhood and involve children and pets?” Cross asked.
To make neighborhood walking more attractive — even after COVID-19 — Cross has been working with Morgantown’s engineering department to come up with neighborhood activity loops.
The loops will be routes with signs and markings to ensure pedestrian and biker safety, Cross said.
Morgantown will be releasing more information about the program soon, Communications Director Andrew Stacy said.
Cross said he’s interested in hearing from people in Morgantown’s various neighborhoods to talk about their specific safety needs or route suggestions. His email is crossnyc@hotmail.com
Cross said his love for walking stems from having walked to school for all 12 years — back when neighborhood schools were the norm.
Pedestrian safety has been a problem in Morgantown, but the issue really came to the forefront of the public’s mind when 21-year-old WVU civil engineering student Leah Berhanu was killed in 2018, Cross said.
With fewer people driving, some people who may not have felt safe before might feel better now that there is less traffic.
Pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings and drivers need to follow the law — stopping at stop signs and for pedestrians in crosswalks, Monongalia County Health Department’s Public Information Officer MaryWade Triplett said.
Motorists should avoid distracted driving, meaning don’t text while behind the wheel and be extra cautious of pedestrians since many recreational facilities are closed and more people are outdoors, she said.
Many areas in Morgantown don’t have sidewalks and people should be especially cautions in those areas.
“Finally, everyone, including pedestrians, should follow COVID-19 guidelines by wearing a mask while in public and maintaining a 6-foot social distance from anyone they encounter, including on the rail trail,” Tripplett said. “Masks might not be realistic for people who are really exerting themselves by jogging or running, but they should keep one on them for the times when they slow down and might be near others.”
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