Why do Americans walk so little? (legs, build, bike, repair)

[tvdxer]

I live in a semi-rural area next to a city with several walkable neighborhoods. One of them is a working-class neighborhood which some years ago renovated one of its "main drags", making it more pedestrian/cyclist friendly, widening and beautifying the sidewalks and reducing the roadway from four lanes and no shoulders to two lanes with ample shoulders. A strip mall and supermarket are integrated into the pedestrian-friendly environment. Decrepit single-family houses were torn down to build subsidized and market-rate row houses, inspired by the "new urbanist" movement, just across the road from the supermarket.

Yet I see a maximum of two, maybe three people on the streets at any time. Few shoppers, few groups of students (there's a high school nearby), few leisure walkers. We operated a retail business in this neighborhood for many years. A lady two blocks away said she would not be coming in as her car was in the repair shop. Some of our workers would drive to the bank across the street.

The same with the area around my house: on walks on beautiful summer evenings, I encounter few other walkers. There was a sweet retired couple that walked for several years and are some people who run, but that's it. I live in a beautiful area, and even after being here for over 18 years I can still appreciate the rolling hills and mix of woodland and field. When my neighbor visits our house, she drives, rather than ambling through the land between our houses or walking on the roads connecting them. I've even seen people drive to get their mail.

It makes me think that much of the effort that cities put into making neighborhoods more "walkable" or "pedestrian-friendly" is wasted hype and energy. Better to just widen the roads and tear down the quaint late 19th / early 20th century buildings housing mostly small businesses and apartments and replace them with strip malls and "motel" style apartments. Indeed, it makes me question whether our legs and feet will turn into what our appendix did: vestigial appendages.

What explains this aversion to walking, even if it is convenient? Walking has always given me a sense of refreshment. Don't other people feel this as well?

[Caesarstl]

I walk... People like you describe make me wish gas would hit $10, $20 gallons a gallon etc. if it weren't for all of the other consequences...

[jtur88]

Don't worry. Things will change back again. When people will have to walk five miles with jugs on their heads to get drinking water, they will walk.

[Upstate Nancy]

I have the same question. When I walk in the mornings, I see maybe 5 regulars walking. Everyone else stays locked up in the house and here we're supposed to be a "nice" weather state. Can't use the excuse of snow/sleet to stay in.

[Johnhw2]

Lots of walkers in my neighborhood in Plano Tx. Some walk and jog long distance for exercise others walk dog, but at 7am I see at least 6 walkers along my one mile drive to the freeway to work. In evenings more walkers are out in my neighborhood when weather is nice.... like it is now in DFW area. Dont tell anyone but its an incredible cool low humidity cloudless sky time of year. Cold front coming in tomorrow so highs this weekend will be 70 not bad for late april.

The route I drive and see the walkers is all residential no retail or commerical shops or businesses along this route. We have a small series of lakes to walk around or across and see walk features off a golf course along this route.

[MtnLion512]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

Lots of walkers in my neighborhood in Plano Tx. Some walk and jog long distance for exercise others walk dog, but at 7am I see at least 6 walkers along my one mile drive to the freeway to work. In evenings more walkers are out in my neighborhood when weather is nice.... like it is now in DFW area. Dont tell anyone but its an incredible cool low humidity cloudless sky time of year. Cold front coming in tomorrow so highs this weekend will be 70 not bad for late april.

The route I drive and see the walkers is all residential no retail or commerical shops or businesses along this route. We have a small series of lakes to walk around or across and see walk features off a golf course along this route.

Plano is about as car-dependent as it gets...one neighborhood with a Walk Score over 50. So props to the people who are making it work. Hopefully the city can create separate paths/wide sidewalks to connect those residential areas to the restaurants, businesses and lakes.

Agreed that weather in DFW, as well as central texas is currently fantastic. I love the springtime.

Plano Rentals, Apartments, and Neighborhoods on Walk Score

[citylove101]

Heres one reason why people in a lot of the country don't walk.

There aren't any sidewalks!

The first time I was ever someplace that didnt have any I was astonished. I mnean how freakin' uncivilized is it to have to walk in the street?

That doesn't explain it all, I'm sure. But there are a lot of places in this contry that are built to actually discorage walking where you want to go.

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by citylove101

Heres one reason why people in a lot of the country don't walk.

There aren't any sidewalks!

The first time I was ever someplace that didnt have any I was astonished. I mnean how freakin' uncivilized is it to have to walk in the street?

That doesn't explain it all, I'm sure. But there are a lot of places in this contry that are built to actually discorage walking where you want to go.

Country roads, at least around here, are usually low traffic. I don't see it as being uncivilized at all to walk in the street (or on the road, as it is rural areas we are speaking about). In the mile I walk on a paved road adjacent to my property, there might be 3 - 4 cars that pass me when I go on my night walks in the summer (usually anytime between 8 pm and 12 am), increasing to about 10 cars during afternoon rush hour.

[Novila]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Country roads, at least around here, are usually low traffic. I don't see it as being uncivilized at all to walk in the street (or on the road, as it is rural areas we are speaking about). In the mile I walk on a paved road adjacent to my property, there might be 3 - 4 cars that pass me when I go on my night walks in the summer (usually anytime between 8 pm and 12 am), increasing to about 10 cars during afternoon rush hour.

This could work except for places like where I am, where traffic is heavy and still no sidewalks. It is just plain dangerous to walk in moving traffic, which is sad because it's really just a couple blocks from my apt to the store. If I want to walk somewhere, and I certainly do, I take the prescribed bike path in the woods. I'm not getting anywhere, but at least I'm using my legs!

[citylove101]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Country roads, at least around here, are usually low traffic. I don't see it as being uncivilized at all to walk in the street (or on the road, as it is rural areas we are speaking about). In the mile I walk on a paved road adjacent to my property, there might be 3 - 4 cars that pass me when I go on my night walks in the summer (usually anytime between 8 pm and 12 am), increasing to about 10 cars during afternoon rush hour.

Yes, I can understand no sidewalks in a rural area. That makes sense. But I'm talking about in many newer suburban developments around the country. Specifically I've seen this 'burbs of Chicago and Detroit. Rows and rows of tract houses and no sidewalks. And I know those aren't the only metros with lots of streets and no sidewalks. Blame it on cheap developers or twon officials, I dunno. But it does help keep people in cars and off their feet.