America's most walkable cities

[Stan Horwitz]

Check out this CNN article

 < http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/04/walkable.communities.ap/index.html>

It ranks Philly (my home town) highly in terms of walkability. I love
walking in Philly. In fact, I expect to be taking a nice walk there in a
half an hour or so.

Washington was top ranked. I haven't been to many of the cities on this
list, but I would agree with it for the cities where I have been to such
as New York, Boston, and Las Vegas, although walking in Las Vegas is a
problem for many people in the hot summer weather.

I am glad that walking is becoming more popular. Its great exercise,
great for the environment, and it helps clear one's mind.

[mcs]

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article
< http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/04/walkable.communities.ap/index.html>
It ranks Philly (my home town) highly in terms of walkability. I love
walking in Philly. In fact, I expect to be taking a nice walk there in a
half an hour or so.
Washington was top ranked. I haven't been to many of the cities on this
list, but I would agree with it for the cities where I have been to such
as New York, Boston, and Las Vegas, although walking in Las Vegas is a
problem for many people in the hot summer weather.
I am glad that walking is becoming more popular. Its great exercise,
great for the environment, and it helps clear one's mind.

studies like this that don't really quantify what makes it walkable or
better seems to promote a city rather then the viability of a good walk or
study
One would think parks and clean air would factor into the mix, but ha, that
would probably disqualify the intent of the study.

[Stan Horwitz]

Post by mcs

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article
< http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/04/walkable.communities.ap/index.html>
It ranks Philly (my home town) highly in terms of walkability. I love
walking in Philly. In fact, I expect to be taking a nice walk there in a
half an hour or so.
Washington was top ranked. I haven't been to many of the cities on this
list, but I would agree with it for the cities where I have been to such
as New York, Boston, and Las Vegas, although walking in Las Vegas is a
problem for many people in the hot summer weather.
I am glad that walking is becoming more popular. Its great exercise,
great for the environment, and it helps clear one's mind.

studies like this that don't really quantify what makes it walkable or
better seems to promote a city rather then the viability of a good walk or
study
One would think parks and clean air would factor into the mix, but ha, that
would probably disqualify the intent of the study.

This study was with reference to how convenient it is to access
different services and businesses on foot rather than driving. Certainly
the availability of parks would be important too in a more comprehensive
study, but even there, Philadelphia is tough to beat because it has the
most extensive park system of any urban area in the United States, if I
am not mistaken. Speaking as someone who has walked many miles in
Philadelphia, its an awesome city for walking.

Just this morning, despite the cold blustery weather, I walked nearly 3
miles to my office in North Philadelphia and I enjoyed the walk.

[BrianK]

On 12/4/2007 9:18 PM Stan Horwitz plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger

Post by Stan Horwitz

Post by mcs

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article
< http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/04/walkable.communities.ap/index.html>
It ranks Philly (my home town) highly in terms of walkability. I love
walking in Philly. In fact, I expect to be taking a nice walk there in a
half an hour or so.
Washington was top ranked. I haven't been to many of the cities on this
list, but I would agree with it for the cities where I have been to such
as New York, Boston, and Las Vegas, although walking in Las Vegas is a
problem for many people in the hot summer weather.
I am glad that walking is becoming more popular. Its great exercise,
great for the environment, and it helps clear one's mind.

studies like this that don't really quantify what makes it walkable or
better seems to promote a city rather then the viability of a good walk or
study
One would think parks and clean air would factor into the mix, but ha, that
would probably disqualify the intent of the study.

This study was with reference to how convenient it is to access
different services and businesses on foot rather than driving. Certainly
the availability of parks would be important too in a more comprehensive
study, but even there, Philadelphia is tough to beat because it has the
most extensive park system of any urban area in the United States, if I
am not mistaken. Speaking as someone who has walked many miles in
Philadelphia, its an awesome city for walking.
Just this morning, despite the cold blustery weather, I walked nearly 3
miles to my office in North Philadelphia and I enjoyed the walk.

Let's not forget the "Island City", Key West. The highest elevation is
only 12 ft above sea level. Key West is very flat, making it low impact
walking as well.

I've always enjoyed walking in New York, even though the walk isn't
flat. There's always something interesting to see as you walk. Wearing
good walking shoes, I once walked from the Metropolitan Museum of Art
all the way down to Bowling Green. (I was not pressed for time.) The
tourist zone, Historic Section, of Charleston is an easy walk. In all
the cities I've cited, key businesses are accessible on foot. I'm not
referring only to businesses that cater to tourists.

[Stan Horwitz]

Post by BrianK
Let's not forget the "Island City", Key West. The highest elevation is
only 12 ft above sea level. Key West is very flat, making it low impact
walking as well.
I've always enjoyed walking in New York, even though the walk isn't
flat. There's always something interesting to see as you walk. Wearing
good walking shoes, I once walked from the Metropolitan Museum of Art
all the way down to Bowling Green. (I was not pressed for time.) The
tourist zone, Historic Section, of Charleston is an easy walk. In all
the cities I've cited, key businesses are accessible on foot. I'm not
referring only to businesses that cater to tourists.

The average elevation in Philadelphia is 11 feet above sea level if I am
not mistaken, but it does have some very steep areas such as Manayunk.

I agree about NYC. I love walking around there. I could spend hours
walking there. I have walked all the way from the the NYU campus to Penn
Station on a nice day. Cities are my favorite areas to walk. Just
yesterday, I walked from 8th and Market Streets to my office in North
Philly about three miles away. The weather was very cold and windy, but
I was dressed appropriately and I enjoyed the walk.

[mcs]

Post by Stan Horwitz

Post by mcs

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article
< http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/04/walkable.communities.ap/index.html>
It ranks Philly (my home town) highly in terms of walkability. I love
walking in Philly. In fact, I expect to be taking a nice walk there in a
half an hour or so.
Washington was top ranked. I haven't been to many of the cities on this
list, but I would agree with it for the cities where I have been to such
as New York, Boston, and Las Vegas, although walking in Las Vegas is a
problem for many people in the hot summer weather.
I am glad that walking is becoming more popular. Its great exercise,
great for the environment, and it helps clear one's mind.

studies like this that don't really quantify what makes it walkable or
better seems to promote a city rather then the viability of a good walk or
study
One would think parks and clean air would factor into the mix, but ha, that
would probably disqualify the intent of the study.

This study was with reference to how convenient it is to access
different services and businesses on foot rather than driving. Certainly
the availability of parks would be important too in a more comprehensive
study, but even there, Philadelphia is tough to beat because it has the
most extensive park system of any urban area in the United States, if I
am not mistaken. Speaking as someone who has walked many miles in
Philadelphia, its an awesome city for walking.
Just this morning, despite the cold blustery weather, I walked nearly 3
miles to my office in North Philadelphia and I enjoyed the walk.

well true so why was Philly so far down on the list with the great park
system?
you did pick a good air day to walk, what the heck is going on here, for
the first time in five years we seem to have six out of eight days with
majority of time in good air. Of course many cities get that every day. but
not here. I wonder if some changes are happening and I don't know it. Nahh
this city is still in denial

[Karen Y Byrd]

Post by mcs
well true so why was Philly so far down on the list with the great park
system?

The answer is simple. The people who created this list hardly know
about our extensive park system. Do you think they spent five seconds
in Pennypack, Cobbs Creek or FDR Parks? Heck, chances are they barely were aware
of Fairmount Park. It's one reason to find all these surveys
as virtually 100% useless.

Post by mcs
you did pick a good air day to walk, what the heck is going on here, for
the first time in five years we seem to have six out of eight days with
majority of time in good air.

How many weather systems have crossed the country, and affected our weather,
in the past week? That's your clue.

Post by mcs
Of course many cities get that every day. but
not here. I wonder if some changes are happening and I don't know it. Nahh
this city is still in denial

And you need an attitude adjustment just like Nutter is asking us
to have. Stop viewing everything as glass-half empty.

[Mimi]

Post by Karen Y Byrd

Post by mcs
well true so why was Philly so far down on the list with the great park
system?

The answer is simple. The people who created this list hardly know
about our extensive park system. Do you think they spent five seconds
in Pennypack, Cobbs Creek or FDR Parks? Heck, chances are they barely were aware
of Fairmount Park. It's one reason to find all these surveys
as virtually 100% useless.

We had a couple of discussions about public parks in US cities. So I googled
and found this site:
http://www.tpl.org/content_documents/ccpe_TotalAcres_asPercentofLandArea.pdf.
It lists -- as the URL indicates -- total park area as a percentage of total
area. Don't know if parkways are included -- or even if it's accurate. But
it's interesting. I wonder if anybody's computed how much park area within
an hour's drive. Both of these numbers would affect a city's liveability.

Marianne

[mcs]

Post by Karen Y Byrd

Post by mcs
well true so why was Philly so far down on the list with the great park
system?

The answer is simple. The people who created this list hardly know
about our extensive park system. Do you think they spent five seconds
in Pennypack, Cobbs Creek or FDR Parks? Heck, chances are they barely were aware
of Fairmount Park. It's one reason to find all these surveys
as virtually 100% useless.

Post by mcs
you did pick a good air day to walk, what the heck is going on here, for
the first time in five years we seem to have six out of eight days with
majority of time in good air.

How many weather systems have crossed the country, and affected our weather,
in the past week? That's your clue.

Post by mcs
Of course many cities get that every day. but
not here. I wonder if some changes are happening and I don't know it. Nahh
this city is still in denial

And you need an attitude adjustment just like Nutter is asking us
to have. Stop viewing everything as glass-half empty.

with all the myriad of asthma commericals and people I talked to , with all
the John Whites, Hy Lits, Joe Niagara, Jonny Callisons, and Jim Correa who
have died sooner then they should and all the people who have respiratory
disease and all the days I saw our air get worse in the last five years,,, I
like to stick to the point. Did we make some changes in air pollution that
is affecting us more then air fronts. We had the same fronts last two years
and with chilling predictability the air was still out of the good zone most
of the days it was horrible. What has happened lately? Of course I still
believe it could be the front and nothing has changed, but one can hope.

[Karen Y Byrd]

Post by mcs
with all the myriad of asthma commericals and people I talked to , with all
the John Whites, Hy Lits, Joe Niagara, Jonny Callisons, and Jim Correa who
have died sooner then they should

Why is it such a stretch for you to believe in "personal responsibility"
in why some people die, supposedly, ahead of time? There's also the
fact that people, because of their DNA, age faster which, obviously,
means they will likely die before some other people.

I mentioned to you before(of course there was no comment from you)
that sports stars and other celebrities often have messy life-styles.
So it's no surprise to me when one of them dies early.

Post by mcs
and all the people who have respiratory
disease

A LOT of them smoked.

It's very common to see 1) very over weight people 2) smoking.
Whether the air is bad of not they are probably doubling or
tripling their chances of developing a respiratory disease.

But, naturally, for you it's NEVER about how people conduct their
lives with the decisions they, themselves, make. For you
it's easier to just say, "The air's bad so I'm blameless
and so are they?" It removes all guilt.

[mcs]

Post by Karen Y Byrd

Post by mcs
with all the myriad of asthma commericals and people I talked to , with all
the John Whites, Hy Lits, Joe Niagara, Jonny Callisons, and Jim Correa who
have died sooner then they should

Why is it such a stretch for you to believe in "personal responsibility"
in why some people die, supposedly, ahead of time? There's also the
fact that people, because of their DNA, age faster which, obviously,
means they will likely die before some other people.
I mentioned to you before(of course there was no comment from you)
that sports stars and other celebrities often have messy life-styles.
So it's no surprise to me when one of them dies early.

Post by mcs
and all the people who have respiratory
disease

A LOT of them smoked.
It's very common to see 1) very over weight people 2) smoking.
Whether the air is bad of not they are probably doubling or
tripling their chances of developing a respiratory disease.
But, naturally, for you it's NEVER about how people conduct their
lives with the decisions they, themselves, make. For you
it's easier to just say, "The air's bad so I'm blameless
and so are they?" It removes all guilt.

naturally for you Karen,
you refuse to see objective studies which show Philly has more disease from
breathing. Unless you know we smoke more often then assume those same
factors are understood in other cities too .
Its interestting in the last five days with clean air we had less murders..
a fact that seems to keep happening in Seattle and other clean cities but
not all. When you deal with studies, its not always true, just the
probability that most of the time it is.

[Karen Y Byrd]

Post by mcs
naturally for you Karen,

Steve, I just expect adults to act like grown-ups and
accept responsibility for a lot of what befalls them.

You don't and that's clear.

Post by mcs
you refuse

You refuse to see anything that supposes people should
make an effort to counteract the effects of what the air
might do by taking care of themselves in ways they
REALLY CAN CONTROL.

Post by mcs
to see objective studies which show Philly has more disease from
breathing.

Philly also has a lot of grossly overweight people and the
air didn't make them that way. It also has a lot of smokers
which is contributing to the rate of lung disease in this city.

Post by mcs
Unless you know we smoke more often then assume those same
factors are understood in other cities too .

I think Phila., which has more poor people than the 10 largest cities
in the US, and therefore presumably
more uneducated/under-educated/uninformed people, probably has more
smokers than more progressive places like Seattle.

Post by mcs
Its interestting in the last five days with clean air we had less murders..

The murders always decrease when it's colder.

[Stan Horwitz]

Post by Karen Y Byrd

Post by mcs
well true so why was Philly so far down on the list with the great park
system?

The answer is simple. The people who created this list hardly know
about our extensive park system. Do you think they spent five seconds
in Pennypack, Cobbs Creek or FDR Parks? Heck, chances are they barely were
aware of Fairmount Park. It's one reason to find all these surveys
as virtually 100% useless.

Karen; you missed the point of the article. No one is disputing that
Philadelphia has a great park system. The article I cited was in
reference to how easy it is to run errands in each of the cities on foot
such as buying groceries, visiting friends, going to the doctor, etc.
It was about how convenient each city is for running errands on foot.

[Matthew T. Russotto]

Post by Stan Horwitz
Karen; you missed the point of the article. No one is disputing that
Philadelphia has a great park system. The article I cited was in
reference to how easy it is to run errands in each of the cities on foot
such as buying groceries, visiting friends, going to the doctor, etc.
It was about how convenient each city is for running errands on foot.

Right; large parks make that worse by getting in the way.

[Stan Horwitz]

Post by Matthew T. Russotto

Post by Stan Horwitz
Karen; you missed the point of the article. No one is disputing that
Philadelphia has a great park system. The article I cited was in
reference to how easy it is to run errands in each of the cities on foot
such as buying groceries, visiting friends, going to the doctor, etc.
It was about how convenient each city is for running errands on foot.

Right; large parks make that worse by getting in the way.

There's a large park with a river running through it that adds nearly
two miles onto the walk between my home and the nearest train station. I
love the park, but I would love it even more if there was a pedestrian
bridge over the river in my area.

[mcs]

well there goes the good air.. 6 out of 8 was the most days for us. Wow..
this is actually a bad run for many places with cleaner air.

Now my lungs are constricted and its time to get the helll out of here if I
want to live.. the rest of you, your cells are slowly being destroyed one
cell at a time only you don't know it and I am telling you.

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article
< http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/04/walkable.communities.ap/index.html>
It ranks Philly (my home town) highly in terms of walkability. I love
walking in Philly. In fact, I expect to be taking a nice walk there in a
half an hour or so.
Washington was top ranked. I haven't been to many of the cities on this
list, but I would agree with it for the cities where I have been to such
as New York, Boston, and Las Vegas, although walking in Las Vegas is a
problem for many people in the hot summer weather.
I am glad that walking is becoming more popular. Its great exercise,
great for the environment, and it helps clear one's mind.

[Karen Y Byrd]

Post by mcs
well there goes the good air.. 6 out of 8 was the most days for us. Wow..
this is actually a bad run for many places with cleaner air.
Now my lungs are constricted and its time to get the helll out of here if I
want to live..

So why don't you????? I suspect it's not nearly as life and death
for you as you claim it is. I mean, my God man, if it's so bad
for you how do you have the energy to read these lists, post
and, gee.... "drive a lot"(your words). Dying people are just
that. You are giving go indication that you actually are.

Post by mcs
the rest of you, your cells are slowly being destroyed one
cell at a time only you don't know it and I am telling you.

Steve, EVERYONE is dying slowly or more rapidly. Do you
know any human immortals? I think you're afraid of dying.
That's part of what your air pollution "discussion" is about.

[mcs]

Post by Karen Y Byrd

Post by mcs
well there goes the good air.. 6 out of 8 was the most days for us. Wow..
this is actually a bad run for many places with cleaner air.
Now my lungs are constricted and its time to get the helll out of here if I
want to live..

So why don't you????? I suspect it's not nearly as life and death
for you as you claim it is. I mean, my God man, if it's so bad
for you how do you have the energy to read these lists, post
and, gee.... "drive a lot"(your words). Dying people are just
that. You are giving go indication that you actually are.

Post by mcs
the rest of you, your cells are slowly being destroyed one
cell at a time only you don't know it and I am telling you.

Steve, EVERYONE is dying slowly or more rapidly. Do you
know any human immortals? I think you're afraid of dying.
That's part of what your air pollution "discussion" is about.

Karen, I told you where the pollution is coming from. I wrote about if there
was a way to objectively get the information , you ignore it.anyway Our
ratings for asthma and respiratory deaths and illness and f rating by
American Lung Association and number one in depression and links that say
exercising in bad air might do more harm then good and many photos of black
air filters .. didn't persuade you nothing will. its not magic or my desire
to hurt Philly , at least I am telling people that constricted lungs is
involuntary. Am I dying ? Probably like you mentioned we all die but is my
reaction just so unique? NO , there seems to be lots of reasons we are
getting so many commercials for nebulizers then to just reach me!

[I***@jps.net]

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article
�<�http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/04/walkable.communities.ap/index.html>
I haven't been to many of the cities on this
list, but I would agree with it for the cities where I have been to such
as New York, Boston, and Las Vegas, although walking in Las Vegas is a
problem for many people in the hot summer weather.

I have been to each of the thirty cities on the list. The ranking
makes no sense to me. I think maybe the author didn't set foot in some
of 'em. Of course, there's always the dif'rent strokes factor.

--
___________________________________________________________________
A San Franciscan who's visited 49 of 50 US states.
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ -<->- http://geocities.com/iconoc/
http://geocities.com/touringsfo/ <----<->----> IClast at GMail com

[Hunt]

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article

[SNIP]

I rank San Francisco as a very walkable city - good views, great elevation
changes, and friendly cross-walks.

Hunt

[BrianK]

Post by Hunt

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article

[SNIP]
I rank San Francisco as a very walkable city - good views, great elevation
changes, and friendly cross-walks.
Hunt

This may be true if you are very fit. But it's not such a good walking
city if you are over 65 and either have asthma, congestive heart
failure, or some other pulmonary condition.

[Hunt]

In article <***@corp.supernews.com>, ***@earthlink.net
says...

Post by BrianK

Post by Hunt

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article

[SNIP]
I rank San Francisco as a very walkable city - good views, great elevation
changes, and friendly cross-walks.
Hunt

This may be true if you are very fit. But it's not such a good walking
city if you are over 65 and either have asthma, congestive heart
failure, or some other pulmonary condition.

At 60, with 35 lbs. of cameras, I've never had a problem. Now, if one is
infirm, as you mention, then almost any walking might pose a problem. In a
"normal" day in SF, I'll go from the Financial district to the GG Bridge,
often stopping to climb the Coit Tower, if the weather looks like it might
give me something, that I have not yet photographed - then back to the hotel.
We always walk to dinner, unless there are night time neighborhoods to be
traversed, that we'd rather not explore.

Hunt

[me]

Post by Hunt
says...

Post by BrianK

Post by Hunt

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article

[SNIP]
I rank San Francisco as a very walkable city - good views, great elevation
changes, and friendly cross-walks.
Hunt

This may be true if you are very fit. But it's not such a good walking
city if you are over 65 and either have asthma, congestive heart
failure, or some other pulmonary condition.

At 60, with 35 lbs. of cameras, I've never had a problem. Now, if one is
infirm, as you mention, then almost any walking might pose a problem. In a
"normal" day in SF, I'll go from the Financial district to the GG Bridge,
often stopping to climb the Coit Tower, if the weather looks like it might
give me something, that I have not yet photographed - then back to the hotel.
We always walk to dinner, unless there are night time neighborhoods to be
traversed, that we'd rather not explore.

When my walking wife and I visited San Fran, we commented on
how much better shape we'd be in if we lived there. The ascents were
steep but the kind where over time you'd aclimate to the well over
time.
Truth is our hour walk in the morning would take less space. 20
minutes down hill, 40 minutes back up ;-)

[mcs]

Walking in SF should be my only problem. try coming to this polluted hell. .
Sf has many many more great air days then here. Having said that if you walk
near city traffic your putting yourself at risk and many women do that
without knowing they are putting themselves at risk. Of course women do that
because they want to be seen and not risk being jumped in remote place. We
have the least percentage of good air days in my east coast city ,,
something the media and the charts they come out with refuse to list! I
never believed in conspiracies.. I do now!Well I cleared up the mistics why
we are number one for respiratory disease but not necessarily because we get
the most accumulation of pollutants. We just get the most days in moderate
and not good air. The bad days are there too.

Post by Hunt
says...

Post by BrianK

Post by Hunt

Post by Stan Horwitz
Check out this CNN article

[SNIP]
I rank San Francisco as a very walkable city - good views, great elevation
changes, and friendly cross-walks.
Hunt

This may be true if you are very fit. But it's not such a good walking
city if you are over 65 and either have asthma, congestive heart
failure, or some other pulmonary condition.

At 60, with 35 lbs. of cameras, I've never had a problem. Now, if one is
infirm, as you mention, then almost any walking might pose a problem. In a
"normal" day in SF, I'll go from the Financial district to the GG Bridge,
often stopping to climb the Coit Tower, if the weather looks like it might
give me something, that I have not yet photographed - then back to the hotel.
We always walk to dinner, unless there are night time neighborhoods to be
traversed, that we'd rather not explore.
Hunt

[Stan Horwitz]

Post by BrianK
This may be true if you are very fit. But it's not such a good walking
city if you are over 65 and either have asthma, congestive heart
failure, or some other pulmonary condition.

I doubt that any area is good for walking for anyone who has congestive
heart failure, or some other pulmonary condition and possibly asthma too.

[mcs]

Post by Stan Horwitz

Post by BrianK
This may be true if you are very fit. But it's not such a good walking
city if you are over 65 and either have asthma, congestive heart
failure, or some other pulmonary condition.

I doubt that any area is good for walking for anyone who has congestive
heart failure, or some other pulmonary condition and possibly asthma too.

stan
having asthma does not preclude someone from walking or keeping fit or even
jogging. I don't know about congestive heart failure yet, thank god