Walkers have foothold in Chapel Hill

The News & Observer, March 12, 1992

By SUSAN KAUFFMAN, Staff writer

CHAPEL HILL -- You've seen them -- on Franklin and North Columbia Streets, in Eastowne, on campus or near Broad Street in Carrboro. On foot. In pairs or alone. Dogs in tow. Briskly moving along, or strolling casually.

The walkers of Chapel Hill are restless regulars on the sidewalks and pathways.

...

They like the fresh air, the chance to commune with nature, or to brush the cobwebs from their minds. Some, such as Town Council member Joseph A. Herzenberg, refuse to own cars and walking is their form of transportation.

"It's a statement of sort," Herzenberg said. "I think too much of our life and world is dominated by private automobiles. Some people couldn't live without them."

Herzenberg, who saunters downtown, views exercise as a byproduct of walking. More importantly, it's a great way to socialize and keep abreast of the latest news.

"I never quite learned to leave home early enough to get someplace on time," Herzenberg said. "I'm frequently interrupted, but that's OK."