Walking in America

[TromboneAl]

We did a lot of walking around during our recent St. Louis trip. The most amusing part was that every time we asked how to get somewhere, and mentioned that we were walking, the response was always:

"Oh no, you can't walk there, it's too far!"

As an example, one of those "Oh no, that's too far!" walks only took 19 minutes.

The bad part was that sometimes we ended up in totally deserted areas, and we probably weren't that safe. This limited our nighttime walking.

BTW, total cost for a week in St. Louis, including airfare: $1760.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

We did a lot of walking around during our recent St. Louis trip.  The most amusing part was that every time we asked how to get somewhere, and mentioned that we were walking, the response was always:

"Oh no, you can't walk there, it's too far!"

As an example, one of those "Oh no, that's too far!" walks only took 19 minutes.

The bad part was that sometimes we ended up in totally deserted areas, and we probably weren't that safe.  This limited our nighttime walking.

BTW, total cost for a week in St. Louis, including airfare: $1760.

Random night time walking in St. Louis is not a good idea IMHO.

JG

 

[Eagle43]

To broaden the discussion, I have found that in Europe people walk at least 10 times, if not more, than we do.  I think it contributes to their lesser weight, and probably to better health.  I've been to France and Spain in past 5 years, and both places seem to have many more walkers than we (USA).  Most of us would drive to the mailbox, were it possible.  I can't speak for New York or Washington but here in Texas, walking is just not done, unless you are poor.  Perhaps the reason you gave explains all.  It's not safe.  But, I don't believe it; we just do not want to walk and life in the suburbs seems to decrease the opportunity. 

 

[Honkie]

Maybe someone could answer the question of why people drive to the health club/fitness centre, spend an hour walking on a treadmill, then drive home?

 

[Michael]

People don't always feel safe walking to the fitness center, and breathing city pollution along the way can do more harm than good.

 

[cj]

A lot of the US is no longer "walk-friendly"; no sidewalks, dangerous traffic. Most people don't live near the places we go to shop or do business.

My DH & I bought a little log house a few years ago (where we intend to RE); it's on 4 acres with lots of woods and a stream. But the best part is that it's only a little more than a mile to town. We will often walk to town to have breakfast, go to the bank or to the library. But it can be treacherous with no sidewalks or room on the side of the road. We have to be VERY careful...

CJ

 

[farmerEd]

My older brother is a fitness fanatic...runs or rides his bike everywhere. He lives in New England were its pretty common to see people out exercising...on a recent trip down south(Think it was new orleans area, he was living there for 3-4 months for a temp job) he was out jogging someone called the police on him...assumed he must be running from something...guess they don't have many joggers down that way...

 

[Martha]

I love to walk. This is one of the reasons I never liked the suburbs. Often no sidewalks and no where interesting to walk.

 

[capricious]

If you wanted to see "walking," ya should
have gone up to Alton, Il (15 miles North
of St. Louis) on Saturday for the running
race along the river road.

About 845 people running 10 miles on
a crisp fall day alongside the Mississippi River

I ran it.

 

[capricious]

"We did a lot of walking around during our recent St. Louis trip.  The most amusing part was that every time we asked how to get somewhere, and mentioned that we were walking, the response was always:

"Oh no, you can't walk there, it's too far!"








There is a lot of that in any city, I suppose.

But I work in St. Louis, on the South side, and I go out
and run 5 miles at lunch, during which I often run by (literally)
the bank or the post office to tend to business.

Within that 5 mile run is a Walgreens, a Big Lots, a Radio Shack,
Family Dollar, Blockbuster.

Within walking distance of the house (13 mile commute) is a bank, couple of credit
unions, another Walgreens, hardware store, (2) grocery stores,
Wal-mart, numerous smaller shops, restaurants, public
library, and even (2) car washes, although walking/running to the car wash
is self-defeating.

Other than the commute to work, and weekend "road trips." I
can get by driving very little.  Save money on gasoline, wear-n-tear
on the vehicle, and on health club fees.

Wear out the sneakers pretty quick.

 

[Sheryl]

There is a whole "movement" out there in the urban design world which is trying to counter this "unwalkable" trend.

I recently heard this guy (Dan Burden) speak about it - he puts on a good, inspiring slide show.

http://www.walkable.org/

 

[SteveR]

People don't always feel safe walking to the fitness center, and breathing city pollution along the way can do more harm than good.

What makes you think the air inside the health club is any better than the "city" air? Air filters are mostly for large particles and the gasses and other finer particles (the ones that can harm you) are not usually filtered out except in the very finest HVAC systems for demanding "clean room" use. Pollution gets drawn into the HVAC system and you breath it anyway.

My experience is that most people drive there so they can exercise in a controlled environment; not too cold, not too hot...and have a shower afterwards. They also like having a variety of machines to use which help ease the bordom with "going where you already are" on a treadmill.

 

[Mountain_Mike]

Ten days ago, I started a walking for fitness program. I have put in a minimum of 30 minutes per day...every day. I already feel much better!

I dropped a car off at a shop last week, and they asked if I needed a ride. I responded that I only had to go about 1 block. They said, no problem they'd call the shuttle. I said, "I'm not that lazy...I don't mind walking."

I then proceed to walk 3 1/2 miles home.

 

[FlowGirl]

There is a whole "movement" out there in the urban design world which is trying to counter this "unwalkable" trend.

I recently heard this guy (Dan Burden) speak about it - he puts on a good, inspiring slide show.

http://www.walkable.org/

James Howard Kunstler's book - Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape and his followup book Home From Nowhere are great reads on this topic.

 

[Outtahere]

I love walking or running, do it daily outside in the good weather with the dog, I have the treadmill for winter and rainy days, a bowflex for my "machine" work and I'm just a step from my own shower when I'm done. I've belonged to gyms but I find I prefer being at home so with the money I saved on membership I bought good equipment. Dh just put a TV up in the exercise area so I can watch the news on the treadmill, it's impossible to walk outside here after dark in the winter, just to dangerous.

As for walking in the city, Boston is a fantastic place, everything is within walking distance, half the kids that work for me don't own a car and half of them don't even have a licence.

 

[sgeeeee]

DW and I walk 5 to 8 miles every day in Mesa, AZ. Mesa is the 3rd largest city in Arizona, and traffic is terrible. But we do most of the walking along the canals here. We avoid almost all traffic that way.

Thirty years ago DW and I were hitchiking around the country. We covered thousands of miles Illinois to Washington to California to Quebec to Florida . . . But we would often get picked up less than 50 miles from a destination city by someone who would ask where we were headed. When we would specify the city, they would respond, "Oh, that's a long way to hitchhike." I sure hope that walking doesn't become as obsolete as hitchhiking has.

 

[TromboneAl]

Ah, hitchhiking. I sure had some interesting experiences hitchhiking.

 

[Dawg52]

I never hitchiked anywhere. Knowing my luck, I would have wound up murdered and stuffed in a carbage can somewhere.   I do like to walk for exercise however. 

 

[sgeeeee]

. . . Knowing my luck, I would have wound up murdered and stuffed in a carbage can somewhere.   . . .

I hate when that happens.

 

[Danny]

After two weeks in Italy we weighed the same as when we left. We walked a lot.
I didn't see any fat people in the cities we were in. Walking was common. It's not a special activity like here, seems to be just a part of everyday life.
I look out my window here and see folks walking with a purpose like their doctor told them to do it.

 

[justin]

Dantien,

I had the same experience during my 6 week backpacking through Mexico trip. We walked a lot, frequently with luggage. We ate tons of stuff (mmm... mexican food). When we came back, I figure I had lost 10-20 lbs and 2 inches on the waist.

 

[SteveR]

Living in Europe or some other areas of the "Old World" can easily allow one to walk to just about anywhere you want to be.  Larger cities with good transit systems also allow more walking and less driving.  

Cities in the US were not designed around a small core area like most older countries.  Horses were the primary transport system in the US when these cities were created so distances between towns was more reflective of how long it took to get from one place to another on horseback.  Twenty miles looks to be a standard distance, on flat ground, for a reasonable distance to cover in a couple of hours.  It would take most of a day for a human to walk 20 miles.

The later the city was developed, the further apart many things became.  Housing was placed further and further away from the core cities and where many of the jobs existed.  Without good public transit systems, a car is about the only way to get you and your stuff around to all the places you need to go on a daily basis.   Add weather to the mix and tight work schedules and you far less time to simply walk to where you want to go.  And, as was stated earlier, crime is a major consideration for walking around in many cities.

 

[Honkie]

It's important to keep fit as you get older, my granny started walking 5 kilometres a day when she was 60. Today she's 97 and we don't know where the hell she is!

 

[justin]

Interesting tidbit: In my field of expertise - transportation engineering and planning - the accepted standard for what is "walkable" in America is 0.25 miles, which can be walked in about 5 minutes. That is only 2.5 standard city blocks. It is hard for me to believe, but I suppose it is true.

 

[SteveR]

Interesting tidbit:  In my field of expertise - transportation engineering and planning - the accepted standard for what is "walkable" in America is 0.25 miles, which can be walked in about 5 minutes.  That is only 2.5 standard city blocks.  It is hard for me to believe, but I suppose it is true. 

If you live in the upper midwest in winter I would say that a 0.25 mile walk into a brisk 35 mph wind, which creates a minus 40 degree windchill, is about right.