As part of the 10-month pilot AARP/Blue Zones City Health Makeover, Albert Lea residents are invited to attend a meeting Thursday to talk about ways to help the city become more walkable and bikeable.

The meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at HealthReach, 1705 S. Broadway Ave., will allow people to hear highlights from the study conducted by international walkability and townmaking expert Dan Burden on how to make the city more walkable and bikeable.

“We want to get people to decide to walk or bike to their destinations like work or the grocery store,” said Public Information Coordinator Teresa Kauffmann.

There will be an additional community meeting scheduled in March — when Burden’s full report is released — to hear all of the recommendations. Burden is the founder of Walkable Communities and is also an internationally recognized photographer and authority on smart growth, sustainability, livable communities and active living.

In addition to hearing highlights of Burden’s study on Thursday, people will be asked to take pictures around town of things they think are good, along with things they think are bad, related to the city’s walkability and bikeability.

People will also be asked if they’re interested in improving city walkability or being involved in future walking projects or as a walking club leader.

There will be talk of developing walking school bus leaders, where children can walk to school with some adult leaders.

The discussion will assess opportunities to make physical changes that could potentially improve health and longevity in Albert Lea.

To RSVP contact Wendy Flugum with the community development office by phone at 377-4315 or by e-mail at wflugum@city.albertlea.org.