Street Smarts: Making the Most of Walkable and Bikable Cities

84
675
Making the Most of Walkable and Bikable Cities

With gas prices as high as they are, those who are fortunate enough to live in cities that are accessible for pedestrians and bikers are relieved to have these travel options at hand.

Although they may not have to worry about owning a vehicle and its associated costs, they may have their own problems. Walking around a busy city as a distracted pedestrian is still dangerous and can give way to a new financial burden: medical bills.

America is well-known for loving cars and the freedom that comes with them. However, some major cities still follow in the footsteps of other cities worldwide that embrace the more intimate means of walking and biking.

Let’s look at some of those cities, as well as those that aren’t as pedestrian friendly.

The Health (and Financial) Benefits of Walking and Biking

Biking and walking around a busy city or your local area certainly comes with health benefits, but it also helps you accomplish something else: avoiding overspending.

If you bike or walk everywhere, chances are you don’t have to deal with the costs of buying a car, repairing the car, purchasing gas, and insuring the car.

The Monthly Price of Automobile Ownership

Credit Karma says the average monthly cost of owning a car is about $1,000. The total doesn’t even include extra expenses such as registration or parking fees.

Having a car gives owners the freedom to travel wherever they desire, but as you can see, freedom comes with a price.

A bike will have some costs of its own, such as the price of the bicycle and the protective gear you should wear while riding, but overall, it’s much cheaper than owning a car.

The Health Benefits of Walking and Biking

As you can imagine, walking and biking are great for your physical and mental health. Burning non-essential fats by taking your bike or heading out on foot will go a long way.

Physical activity can help you save money in the long run by minimizing the risks of unexpected health concerns and accidents. Therefore, traveling by bike or on foot can even help you keep medical expenses low as long as you stay situationally aware.

Making the Most of Walkable and Bikable Cities

Cities That Encourage Walking and Cycling

As we become more aware of climate change, many cities are embracing the old-school traveling methods of walking and biking.

In addition to several most-walkable U.S. cities, here are some cities around the world that are bike and pedestrian-friendly.

  • Barcelona, Spain: Due to its extremely high traffic density, the city created the Superblock, an urban mobility plan. Each Superblock comprises nine city blocks where traffic is rerouted around the perimeter and slowed down. The rules encourage people to walk or bike and provide the city with lots of greenery.
  • Davis, California: Although this is a relatively small city, it has more than 100 miles of bike lanes and paths. There are also overpasses, underpasses, street lanes, and traffic signals dedicated to bikers. Traffic laws and regulations are also tailored to cyclists.
  • Montreal, Canada: The Greater Montreal area has nearly 2,000 miles of bike lanes and paths, and the COVID-19 pandemic further encouraged bikers to travel this way.
  • Madison, Wisconsin: The American Communities Survey found one-third of commuters in Madison walk, bike, or take public transportation to work. The city is also continuously working on programs to benefit those who prefer walking or biking to work.
  • New York, New York: Despite being the most populated metropolitan city in the United States, New York ranks fairly high in being pedestrian-friendly. In fact, it’s recognized by walkfriendly.org as a Walk-Friendly Community, meaning it’s committed to keeping pedestrians safe.
  • Seattle, Washington: Like many of the other cities listed, Seattle is putting an effort into encouraging commuters to become pedestrians. It also has speed enforcement cameras at 14 schools around the city to protect students from drivers and educate them on walking safely.

While many cities are shifting their focus on lowering traffic or encouraging traffic safety, there are still others where, unfortunately, walking or biking is not safe.

Unsafe Cities for Walking and Cycling

Most of the unsafest cities for cyclists are in California, Texas, and Florida.

Cape Coral, Florida is considered to be the most dangerous city for cyclists. It has 1,333 bicyclist deaths per 100,000 residents. Research showed that the number of cyclists wearing helmets in Cape Coral is extremely low, as well.

If anything, this statistic shows the importance of wearing safety gear while cycling. Other dangerous cycling cities include Dayton, Ohio; Stockton, California; and Abilene, Texas.

Luke Williams writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsurance.org. His passions include insurance and exploring travel alternatives to driving.

84 COMMENTS

  1. Hi there, I found your website by the use of Google at the same time as searching for a similar topic, your site got here up, it seems to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  2. Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the internet the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  3. I feel this is one of the so much important information for me. And i’m satisfied reading your article. However wanna remark on few general things, The site taste is great, the articles is actually excellent : D. Just right task, cheers

  4. Can I simply say what a relief to find an individual who actually knows what they’re talking about on the web. You certainly know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people should look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you’re not more popular since you definitely have the gift.

  5. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

  6. I am extremely inspired together with your writing talents and alsowell as with the format on your blog. Is this a paid topic or did you customize it yourself? Either way stay up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days..

  7. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I will learn a lot of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

  8. Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.

  9. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say great blog!

  10. My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was totally right. This publish actually made my day. You cann’t believe just how much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!

  11. I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net can be much more useful than ever before.

  12. Hiya! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when viewing from my iphone4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share. Thank you!

  13. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.

  14. Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.

  15. Nice post. I used to be checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the final phase 🙂 I handle such info much. I used to be looking for this certain info for a long time. Thanks and good luck.

  16. Magnificent goods from you, man. I have be aware your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely magnificent. I actually like what you have received right here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which by which you assert it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to learn far more from you. This is really a tremendous web site.

  17. I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A few of my blog audience have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue?

  18. Together with every little thing that seems to be building within this specific subject material, your opinions happen to be quite refreshing. Nevertheless, I appologize, but I do not subscribe to your whole theory, all be it exciting none the less. It looks to me that your commentary are actually not totally rationalized and in simple fact you are yourself not really totally convinced of the point. In any event I did appreciate reading through it.

  19. I needed to create you this little observation to be able to thank you over again with your remarkable suggestions you’ve contributed on this site. It was simply unbelievably open-handed with people like you giving without restraint precisely what numerous people might have made available for an e book to make some profit for themselves, even more so considering the fact that you might have tried it if you ever decided. Those strategies in addition worked as the great way to be certain that other individuals have the identical passion really like my personal own to find out a good deal more when considering this condition. I’m sure there are thousands of more enjoyable situations up front for individuals who look over your website.

  20. The following time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my option to learn, but I really thought youd have one thing attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could possibly repair when you werent too busy in search of attention.

  21. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your site. You have some really good articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an email if interested. Thank you!

  22. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return once again since I book-marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  23. I¦ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Studying this info So i am glad to exhibit that I’ve an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I such a lot no doubt will make certain to don¦t forget this web site and provides it a look regularly.

  24. I and my pals were reviewing the excellent tactics found on your site then all of a sudden I got a horrible suspicion I never expressed respect to the web site owner for those secrets. The men happened to be as a result very interested to read through all of them and have definitely been taking advantage of them. Thanks for truly being so accommodating as well as for making a choice on this sort of superior areas most people are really desperate to be informed on. Our own sincere apologies for not expressing appreciation to sooner.

  25. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your site.

  26. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays.

  27. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

  28. I have been surfing on-line more than three hours lately, but I never found any interesting article like yours. It is beautiful value enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the web will be much more helpful than ever before.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here