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Most of us don’t think twice about getting behind the wheel even for short hops to pick up some milk. And that’s not just because cars are convenient, or because we’re lazy. According to Andrew Furman of Ryerson University in Toronto [http://bit.ly/dr76ot], it’s because in many places in North America it’s just not that nice to walk. But if cities and suburbs put more effort into building better pedestrian routes, he says more people might leave their SUVs at home.
With its older cities, Europe is more amenable to meandering. Think cobblestone streets and hidden gardens. But North American cities and suburbs are more modern and car-centric, which generally forces pedestrians and cyclists to always take the same, boring path from A to B. But what if you could take a detour through a lobby that exhibits art, or down a lane that borders a green space? Furman thinks you’d be more likely to hoof it, which would be good for you and the environment.
Take New York City’s High Line, an abandoned railroad that’s been converted into a public park. Since its opening a year ago, this elevated walkway has people strolling through the meatpacking district. Even for folks who like to walk, that’s quite a feat.
—Karen Hopkin
[The above text is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
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4 Comments
Add CommentI'll tell you why people choose to drive rather than walk. Even in relatively heavy traffic it's at least 3 times faster to drive than it is to walk. If traffic isn't heavy, driving can easily be 10 times faster.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSimilarly, the chances are that they're going somewhere to get something. If this is done on foot, that something would have to be hand carried.
Pretty scenery isn't going to change either of these facts.
Spot on, but there is another factor. Noise. I live in Wales in an area of outstanding beauty and sometimes walk into town and back - about 6 miles, however, because the only footpath is at the side of the road, it is an unpleasant experience. Designers of walking routes incorporating noise banks etc will make the whole experience much more pleasant.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhether or not a car is faster really depends a lot on where you live.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI live fairly close to the city center in a German city, and going somewhere else within the city really would not be all that faster, and often slower, than walking, especially once you count the time to find a parking lot. You can go along any path as a pedestrian, but the street layout is far too congested to do the same with a car.
Actually, the fastest mode of transportation within the city is the bicycle. Especially during rush hour you will be far, far faster than anything else...
This thought has crossed my mind many times. Living in a lively neighborhood in upper Manhattan, walking to and from all sorts of destinations is just a pleasure of life, thanks to the beautiful spontaneous energy of the streets there. I can hardly say the same is true for the boring, automobile oriented suburbs of Oregon where my relatives live. There, there are no other people on the streets and no businesses unless they are in stripmall islands, tucked far away behind an acre or so of parking lot. Speeding traffic noise unaccompanied by pedestrian sidewalk clamor is also incredibly unpleasant. However, what makes the Manhattan walks interesting isn't something that was PLANNED by developers, it's the livelihood of the streets and the decadence of old and new architectural styles that is there in spite of such planning. Curated lobbies that exhibit art only have so long before they get stale.
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