Best Cities in the US to Live and Walk in
Even in a most walkable city, walking is vastly underrated and underappreciated
Walking is something that we do every day, but certainly don’t do enough. For too many American’s the longest walk completed everyday might be from the parking lot where we park our cars to the office, school or mall doors.
The average person takes 2,000 steps per mile. Studies have shown that, on an average, a person walking at 3 mph burns about 4 calories per minute. Often called the “nearest activity to perfect exercise” and aside from the simple calorie burning, there are numerous long term health benefits:
- Walking reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
- Walking can help lower blood pressure
- Walking reduces high cholesterol and improve blood lipid profile
- Walking reduces body fat
- Walking increases bone density, hence helping to prevent osteoporosis
- Walking reduces the risk of cancer of the colon
- Walking reduces the risk of non insulin dependent diabetes
- Walking helps osteoarthritis
- Walking helps flexibility and co-ordination hence reducing the risk of falls
Over 75% of American’s live in a walkable city where a commitment to walking is not impossible and in fact, walking is easier than driving.
Although 41% of all trips made in the United States are two miles or less, fewer than 10% of all trips are made by walking and biking. In many cases, walking would actually save time when one considers traffic and parking. Only around 15% of all children today walk or bike to school, a significant decrease compared with 50% of children in 1969. This has created 20-30% increase morning traffic congestion in urban areas due to parents driving children to school meanwhile; we have a national issue with childhood obesity! These facts alone have begun a national movement towards promoting children walking to school and supporting community development and legislation towards maintaining “Safe Routes to School”.
There are a surprising number of cities in the US which are considered quite walkable
Sure, we would all think of New York, Boston and Washington off the top of our heads. But did you know that large parts of Denver are walkable? WalkScore, a project launched in July of 2007, has a website completed dedicated to finding and promoting “Walkable Places to Live”. Walk Score ranks 2,508 neighborhoods in the largest 40 U.S. cities to help you find a walkable place to live. On top of that, they have a list o 138 “Walker’s Paradises” Twenty-two cities have at least one Walkers’ Paradise. New York leads the pack with 38 Walkers’ Paradises including Tribeca, Little Italy, Soho, Chinatown, Midtown and Murray Hill.
America’s most walkable cities overall are:
- San Francisco, CA
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington D.C.
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Portland, OR
- Denver, CO
- Baltimore, MD
- Milwaukee, WI
- Cleveland, OH
- Louisville, KY
- San Diego, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Fresno, CA
- Sacramento, CA
Basically, if one does their homework correctly, you can live and work in a neighborhood where walking would be the finest form of transportation. Over 55% of Americans are choosing their homes and considering a combination of single family homes, larger urban buildings and walking distances as prime reasons for a home purchase. Many real estate professionals are emphasizing walkable neighborhoods and listing a community’s WalkScore as part of their listing procedures with great results. Even Google has a walking directions map search in Beta at http://maps.google.com/maps. Just find your location and under options, select “walking”.
Bottom line, America has many walkable cities and the benefits and appeal of walking are so numerous, that anyone who does not take advantage of this healthy, money saving, ecological, and positive way to get around is just foolish or lazy. At Big Bucks Auto, we want to help America be healthy and efficient. When you are ready, especially all you New Yorkers come to Big Bucks Auto and sell us your used car.
And as you walk away, you’ll be happy you did.
Thinking about selling your car and joining America’s growing number of walkers? Read our Best Cities in the US for Living without a Car article for some useful tips.
Walking, in a country of in a city, has been shown to improve self esteem, relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improve mood
Walking, particularly in pleasant surroundings, and with other people, offers many opportunities for relaxation and social contact. It really does allow you to stop, get out of the rat race and smell the roses should you pass some by. Plus, walking allows you to really interact with your community; you get to look other folks in the eyes, stop and say hello. It’s a natural stress reducer.
Overall, people who walk live longer and have healthier lives
For general health, experts recommend accumulating a total of 30 minutes of brisk walking on most, preferably all days of the week. 10,000 steps per day is a great goal for someone trying to increase their physical activity level. Granted one way of walking more would be to dedicate walking into a normal fitness routine or work the treadmill at the gym, but we can simplify that: stop driving your car.
For more information, please check out these helpful links:
WalkScore; http://www.walkscore.com/
Googel Walking in Beta; http://maps.google.com/maps
Walk to School; http://www.walktoschool.org
America Walks; http://www.americawalks.org
Safe Routes to School; http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
Learn more about why choose us to buy your car and call us today at 1-888-44-BUCKS or 1-888-44-8257
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Tags: america walks, america's most walkable cities, benefits of walking
