Sumter County, SC (WLTX) - This month is National Obesity Awareness Month, and one non-profit in Sumter County has begun a new project to help folks there fight the epidemic.
"The more we move, the better it is for our bodies and the flip side is that most Americans and people in Sumter County are not moving enough. We're just not getting enough physical activity to get the health benefits from it," explains Sumter County Active Lifestyles Executive Director Linda Pekuri.
SCAL is a nonprofit dedicated to get folks heart rates up here. "If we're telling people to become physically active, then we need to provide resources and facilities and safe places and convenient places for them to do so," she says.
Adds Assistant Executive Director Catherine Blumberg, "With this big, broad spectrum of things to do to become more bicycle friendly; we're thinking, 'Where do we start?"
That's where their survey comes in. The questions are dedicated to bicycling and finding out what residents need to hop on and ride more often. "Maybe they'd like their child to ride to school but the child can't, because the roads are unsafe," says Blumberg.
Of the feedback they have so far, that's a big concern for cyclists and motorists. "Surprisingly, both groups are saying the same thing - and that is it's really important for Sumter County to have bicycle lanes designated for cyclists," says Pekuri.
The need for more places to park also tops the list, and better education for drivers and bikers about the rules. Explains Pekuri, "Now we have public information and public opinion and data to present to the folks that can actually make it happen."
And hopefully their county a better place to get healthy. "Our slogan is Drive and Cycle Friendly: Share the Road. So we hope to be doing more of that," Pekuri says.
If you live in Sumter County, there's still time to have your voice heard. Click here to the survey from Sumter County Active Lifestyles.