Montco Launches New App To Guide Socially Distant Exercise

NORRISTOWN, PA — Local officials have launched a new app that is aimed at guiding socially distant exercise around the county as residents adjust to the "new normal" in the ongoing war against coronavirus.

Trail usage has surged up to 200 percent in parts of Montgomery County, and the new web app plots out thousands of less crowded routes for residents.

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The Low Stress Streets for Bicyclists and Pedestrians web app, put togehter by the Montgomery County Planning Commission, classifies roads and paths around the county into five different categories based on level of difficulty for bike riders. Many of these routes are suitable for walkers, joggers, and runners as well. Access the app online here.

Officials continue to encourage exercising outdoors as a way to improve both mental and physical health, and to keep immune systems strong. The key is to ensure this exercise is done in places that are not highly trafficked, in order to minimize exposure.

"We really have to be personally responsible, I just can't stress this enough," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said.

She also urged residents to not be instantly judgemental of everyone who is not wearing a mask outdoors, as some of these individuals suffer from respiratory issues that make breathing through a mask impossible. However, that means that everyone who can wear a mask should be doing their part to protect the rest of society.

"We have to protect other people from us," she said. "Any one of us could be that asymptomatic person that is walking around spreading the virus."

The Planning Commission put together the app with the help of data from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. The tool was originally developed to support planning for the countywide "Bike Montco" plan, aimed at making roads more walkable and bikeable.

Access the app online here.

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