On Thursday, March 16, the Pagosa Springs Main Street Program will host a walk-and-talk tour led by Jonathan Stalls, a Colorado native and author of the book, WALK: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour.
Stalls has been a long-time advocate for pedestrian rights and safety. His Intrinsic Paths movement and Pedestrian Dignity campaign seek to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and encourage people to prioritize the needs of pedestrians in their communities.
Stalls’ vision is to create a more connected, pedestrian-friendly world where people can walk, interact, and build community. He believes pedestrian dignity is not just about safety but also about respect and inclusion.
“Pedestrians should not have to fight for their right to walk safely and with dignity,” he says. “It should be a given, and we need to work to create communities where this is the norm.”
The Pedestrian Dignity campaign seeks to promote the idea that pedestrians are not merely obstacles or afterthoughts in urban planning, but instead, are integral to creating vibrant, livable communities.
One of the key components of the Main Street approach is creating and maintaining walkable downtowns that are safe, accessible, and attractive to pedestrians.
“Walkable communities are the heart of a healthy, thriving downtown, and we are committed to promoting the importance of pedestrian safety and walkability in our community,” says Pagosa Springs Main Street Coordinator Kathleen McFadden. “We are thrilled to have Jonathan Stalls, a renowned advocate for pedestrian rights and safety, leading this event, and we hope the public will join us to explore the town on foot, connect with nature and each other, and learn about Jonathan’s transformative journey walking across the US.”
The WALK Book Event is a unique opportunity to experience the same sense of connection and discovery while engaging with Stalls and each another. The free community event begins at 3:30pm on March 16 starting at Bookends Bookstore located at 466 Pagosa Street, where Stalls’ book will be available.
The foot tour starts at 4:00pm.
Tour participants will ramble down Pagosa and Lewis Streets before crossing to Centennial Park and the river walk, ultimately arriving at the Ross Aragon Community Center for a book reading, signing, and Q&A from 5:00 to 6:30pm.
WALK Book Event – March 16, 2023
Meet: 3:30pm at Bookends Bookstore, 466 Pagosa Street
Walk: 4:00 to 5:00pm on Pagosa and Lewis Streets, Riverwalk
Talk: 5:00 to 6:30pm at Ross Aragon Community Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd
Free Admission – join at any time!
For more information, please contact Kathleen McFadden, Kat@pagosaspringscdc.org.