HONOLULU NAMED A ‘BEST WALKING CITY’

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann today said he is very pleased that Honolulu has been named one of the nation’s “Best Walking Cities” by the American Podiatric Medical Association and by Prevention magazine.

            The group and magazine ranked Honolulu number 7 out of 500 cities evaluated. Criteria used for judging included the percentage of people who walk to work, percentage who use mass transit, percentage who walk for exercise, number of parks per square mile, number of schools per square mile and total cars per household.

            The APMA is holding its 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting at the Hawaii Convention Center from July 24 to 27.

            “Honolulu is a wonderful city to walk in, and we’re continuing to making it even better and more pedestrian-friendly,” Mayor Hannemann said. “Keeping our streets and parks safe and clean is a major priority.”

            The city’s rail mass transit project is a prime example of creating appropriate infrastructure that solves problems and promotes healthy lifestyles and prudent development, he said.

            The APMA was established in 1912 and represents the majority of the nation’s 15,000 podiatrists.

Contact: Bill Brennan, 527-6928