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Walking is one of the most overlooked forms of physical activity. It costs nothing, burns calories, allows you to multi-task, all the while doubling as a mode o

Walking is one of the most overlooked forms of physical activity. It costs nothing, burns calories, allows you to multi-task, all the while doubling as a mode of transportation that doesn't leave you sweaty or needing time to recover. I was about to say that not being able to walk to work - either because you live in a car-centric suburb, or because it's dangerous - is a nigh criminal failure of city planning. On second thoughts, though, that's probably unfair. It's probably a case of demand driving planning, not the other way around. I can't blame city planners if people mostly prefer a large house in the suburbs, and are willing to pay for it with a 45-minute commute.

spaetzleesser 6y ago
Even in the suburbs they could make neighborhoods more walkable. I never understand why US neighborhoods don’t have small walkways that connect one street to the other. I am not sure if it’s just thoughtless or active opposition against walking.
- cafard 6y ago
  Some of the older close-in suburbs do, for example in Silver Spring, Maryland, just inside the Beltway.
- aaronbrethorst 6y ago
  The thinking is that it keeps out poor people and people of color. “There is this perception… that if we have sidewalks, we’re going to bring people who do not belong to our neighborhoods,” she says. In the post-World War II era, many Americans left the cities to live in suburbs with big garages and, just as important, people who weren’t white and middle class like them. https://www.popsci.com/politics-versus-sidewalks/ https://www.popsci.com/politics-versus-sidewalks/
  - kortilla 6y ago
    All of the neighborhoods built in the 50s near me in California had sidewalks, no mandatory setbacks, and zoning that allowed corner stores, making them pleasant to walk through. The zoning didn’t seem to go to shit until much later than the “post-WW2” generalization.
    - aaronbrethorst 6y ago
      California != United States. Here's an example about post-war suburbs from near Minneapolis, where I grew up: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fight-over-suburban-sidewalks-a-window-onto-21st-century-life/ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fight-over-suburba...
      - kortilla 6y ago
        California is certainly part of the US though. Anecdotes invalidate stupid generalizations but anecdotes don’t validate generalizations. You should look up the history of Edina. It was established well before the war and had laws until shortly after the war that land had to be owned by Caucasians. They had no interest in sidewalks when they were built even when they had laws explicitly keeping minorities out.
    - coldtea 6y ago
      Yes, because at the post-WW2 time they could more openly keep blacks out even without covert zoning laws...
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  What some friends remember most about their grad student days in the States is having the police called on them because they were walking around their neighbourhood. "We have a car. It's in our garage." was their defence when grilled by the responding officer. (don't even ask about their anecdote about after-dark US walking etiquette)
  - tomcooks 6y ago
    Please share if you can, I had no idea there was a night walking etiquette in the US
    - _wldu 6y ago
      It depends on the state. Texas is a good example of a state with property protection laws that differ at night. https://www.dougmurphylaw.com/defense-of-property https://www.dougmurphylaw.com/defense-of-property If I were walking at night in Texas, I'd be sure to always stay on clearly marked public sidewalks and paths.
      - arethuza 6y ago
        An interesting article on the Scottish "right to roam" written from a US perspective: https://www.backpacker.com/stories/scotland-right-to-roam https://www.backpacker.com/stories/scotland-right-to-roam
        082349872349872 6y ago
        and (for germanophones and machine translation users) an article on US "no trespassing" written from a german swiss perspective: https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/das-land-der-grossen-freiheit/ https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/das-land-der-grossen-freihei... (the caption on the "survivors will be shot again" sign is "they're serious": Die meinen das ernst.) relevant law clause in english: https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19070042/index.html#a699 https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19070042/...
    - 6y ago
frobisher 6y ago
Indeed, one of the reasons I love living in Europe! It's wonderful to be able to walk around a city. Perhaps lack of planning is what initially enabled artery-like evolution of streets?
- elboru 6y ago
  I stayed in Dublin for a couple of months and I loved it. I was able to go shopping, restaurants, parks, bars or anywhere by walking. I learned I’m a slow walker, at list compared to the standard walk speed of a walkable city (I had to consciously increase my speed just to not slow everyone). I’m 100% sure my extra pounds would disappear if I’d lived in a city like that.
  - 082349872349872 6y ago
    Maybe try Bern? https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pedestrians-speed-study/worlds-cities-step-up-pace-of-life-in-fast-lane-idUSL0235779220070502 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pedestrians-speed-study/w... A Berliner arrives at the Bern train station, and wants to get a haircut and shave. "Make it snappy, I have a transfer to catch," he tells the local barber. "All right sir, of course we can do that, but may I please ask the gnädige Herr ... what is your blood type?" The Berner would agree with the Geordies that "a gentleman will walk but never run."
  - tomcooks 6y ago
    > I’m 100% sure my extra pounds would disappear if I’d lived in a city like that AFAIK it's common with students coming to Europe from more car-centric areas, and the reason why Europeans used to be skinny even when relying on fat diets (this is rapidly changing thanks to the standardization of city planning and diets, from what I can guess from obesity graphs)
- bg_learning 6y ago
  Maybe this might interest you: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-08-29/the-commuting-principle-that-shaped-urban-history https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-08-29/the-commu... "From ancient Rome to modern Atlanta, the shape of cities has been defined by the technologies that allow commuters to get to work in about 30 minutes."
thescriptkiddie 6y ago
It's almost certainly a case of planning driving demand. Rents in walkable neighborhoods are generally higher than car dependant ones, even though the walkable design makes more efficient use of land.
blauditore 6y ago
A good alternative is biking to work, which is much quicker and can also be done without sweating. Disadvantage of both approaches is that it's inconvenient on bad weather days.
- bfieidhbrjr 6y ago
  There is no bad weather, just bad equipment :-)
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basscomm 6y ago
> a mode of transportation that doesn't leave you sweaty or needing time to recover. Around here (in the Ohio River Valley), the temperature in the summertime routinely gets to at least 90° and the humidity never really drops below 70%, just standing around outside is enough to leave you sweaty and needing time to recover. Walking around for an hour or more is a challenge, and I usually need a shower and a change of clothes afterward.
- magicnubs 6y ago
  Living in a places with weather very similar to what you describe (Raleigh, and before that in south Florida, Orlando and Tallahassee), I used to feel the same. I hated walking anywhere outside. I recently moved to a walkable neighborhood and since I'm motivated to walk and bike more since it's easier than driving, I discovered that despite thinking I was dressing to be comfortable in hot + humid weather (shorts and a t shirt), I wasn't. I was dressing to be comfortable once I finally got out of the weather (pretty much exclusively in air conditioned buildings). As a result I was spending as little time as possible outside, which reinforced the way I was preparing for the day. I've only really made a few changes so far (breathable/better ventilated shirts and shoes, and not wearing socks when I can do without). It's still hot and I still sweat, but much less and when I do sweat it evaporates more easily and I feel cooler. I also now try to bring a sweater if I'm going to be inside for hours, just in case they have the AC really cranked (occasionally I'll find it's needed at work or in movie theaters). I guess it's not really a great solution if you are restricted in what you can wear to work though. There are supposed to be breathable suit fabrics (like linen) that are good for hot + humid weather, but I have tried them. I wonder if we'll see increasing acceptance of "professional summer workwear" in the US as the sunbelt continues to boom. Maybe that's part of the reason athleisure has become so popular?

spaetzleesser 6y ago

Even in the suburbs they could make neighborhoods more walkable. I never understand why US neighborhoods don’t have small walkways that connect one street to the other. I am not sure if it’s just thoughtless or active opposition against walking.

cafard 6y ago
Some of the older close-in suburbs do, for example in Silver Spring, Maryland, just inside the Beltway.
aaronbrethorst 6y ago
The thinking is that it keeps out poor people and people of color. “There is this perception… that if we have sidewalks, we’re going to bring people who do not belong to our neighborhoods,” she says. In the post-World War II era, many Americans left the cities to live in suburbs with big garages and, just as important, people who weren’t white and middle class like them. https://www.popsci.com/politics-versus-sidewalks/ https://www.popsci.com/politics-versus-sidewalks/
- kortilla 6y ago
  All of the neighborhoods built in the 50s near me in California had sidewalks, no mandatory setbacks, and zoning that allowed corner stores, making them pleasant to walk through. The zoning didn’t seem to go to shit until much later than the “post-WW2” generalization.
  - aaronbrethorst 6y ago
    California != United States. Here's an example about post-war suburbs from near Minneapolis, where I grew up: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fight-over-suburban-sidewalks-a-window-onto-21st-century-life/ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fight-over-suburba...
    - kortilla 6y ago
      California is certainly part of the US though. Anecdotes invalidate stupid generalizations but anecdotes don’t validate generalizations. You should look up the history of Edina. It was established well before the war and had laws until shortly after the war that land had to be owned by Caucasians. They had no interest in sidewalks when they were built even when they had laws explicitly keeping minorities out.
  - coldtea 6y ago
    Yes, because at the post-WW2 time they could more openly keep blacks out even without covert zoning laws...
082349872349872 6y ago
What some friends remember most about their grad student days in the States is having the police called on them because they were walking around their neighbourhood. "We have a car. It's in our garage." was their defence when grilled by the responding officer. (don't even ask about their anecdote about after-dark US walking etiquette)
- tomcooks 6y ago
  Please share if you can, I had no idea there was a night walking etiquette in the US
  - _wldu 6y ago
    It depends on the state. Texas is a good example of a state with property protection laws that differ at night. https://www.dougmurphylaw.com/defense-of-property https://www.dougmurphylaw.com/defense-of-property If I were walking at night in Texas, I'd be sure to always stay on clearly marked public sidewalks and paths.
    - arethuza 6y ago
      An interesting article on the Scottish "right to roam" written from a US perspective: https://www.backpacker.com/stories/scotland-right-to-roam https://www.backpacker.com/stories/scotland-right-to-roam
      - 082349872349872 6y ago
        and (for germanophones and machine translation users) an article on US "no trespassing" written from a german swiss perspective: https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/das-land-der-grossen-freiheit/ https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/das-land-der-grossen-freihei... (the caption on the "survivors will be shot again" sign is "they're serious": Die meinen das ernst.) relevant law clause in english: https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19070042/index.html#a699 https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19070042/...
  - 6y ago

frobisher 6y ago

Indeed, one of the reasons I love living in Europe! It's wonderful to be able to walk around a city. Perhaps lack of planning is what initially enabled artery-like evolution of streets?

elboru 6y ago
I stayed in Dublin for a couple of months and I loved it. I was able to go shopping, restaurants, parks, bars or anywhere by walking. I learned I’m a slow walker, at list compared to the standard walk speed of a walkable city (I had to consciously increase my speed just to not slow everyone). I’m 100% sure my extra pounds would disappear if I’d lived in a city like that.
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  Maybe try Bern? https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pedestrians-speed-study/worlds-cities-step-up-pace-of-life-in-fast-lane-idUSL0235779220070502 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pedestrians-speed-study/w... A Berliner arrives at the Bern train station, and wants to get a haircut and shave. "Make it snappy, I have a transfer to catch," he tells the local barber. "All right sir, of course we can do that, but may I please ask the gnädige Herr ... what is your blood type?" The Berner would agree with the Geordies that "a gentleman will walk but never run."
- tomcooks 6y ago
  > I’m 100% sure my extra pounds would disappear if I’d lived in a city like that AFAIK it's common with students coming to Europe from more car-centric areas, and the reason why Europeans used to be skinny even when relying on fat diets (this is rapidly changing thanks to the standardization of city planning and diets, from what I can guess from obesity graphs)
bg_learning 6y ago
Maybe this might interest you: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-08-29/the-commuting-principle-that-shaped-urban-history https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-08-29/the-commu... "From ancient Rome to modern Atlanta, the shape of cities has been defined by the technologies that allow commuters to get to work in about 30 minutes."

thescriptkiddie 6y ago

It's almost certainly a case of planning driving demand. Rents in walkable neighborhoods are generally higher than car dependant ones, even though the walkable design makes more efficient use of land.

blauditore 6y ago

A good alternative is biking to work, which is much quicker and can also be done without sweating. Disadvantage of both approaches is that it's inconvenient on bad weather days.

bfieidhbrjr 6y ago
There is no bad weather, just bad equipment :-)
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

basscomm 6y ago

> a mode of transportation that doesn't leave you sweaty or needing time to recover. Around here (in the Ohio River Valley), the temperature in the summertime routinely gets to at least 90° and the humidity never really drops below 70%, just standing around outside is enough to leave you sweaty and needing time to recover. Walking around for an hour or more is a challenge, and I usually need a shower and a change of clothes afterward.

magicnubs 6y ago
Living in a places with weather very similar to what you describe (Raleigh, and before that in south Florida, Orlando and Tallahassee), I used to feel the same. I hated walking anywhere outside. I recently moved to a walkable neighborhood and since I'm motivated to walk and bike more since it's easier than driving, I discovered that despite thinking I was dressing to be comfortable in hot + humid weather (shorts and a t shirt), I wasn't. I was dressing to be comfortable once I finally got out of the weather (pretty much exclusively in air conditioned buildings). As a result I was spending as little time as possible outside, which reinforced the way I was preparing for the day. I've only really made a few changes so far (breathable/better ventilated shirts and shoes, and not wearing socks when I can do without). It's still hot and I still sweat, but much less and when I do sweat it evaporates more easily and I feel cooler. I also now try to bring a sweater if I'm going to be inside for hours, just in case they have the AC really cranked (occasionally I'll find it's needed at work or in movie theaters). I guess it's not really a great solution if you are restricted in what you can wear to work though. There are supposed to be breathable suit fabrics (like linen) that are good for hot + humid weather, but I have tried them. I wonder if we'll see increasing acceptance of "professional summer workwear" in the US as the sunbelt continues to boom. Maybe that's part of the reason athleisure has become so popular?