Happy Halloween, everyone!
I'd like to say I dressed up today, but I'm afraid I overslept and am dressed as just a boring old pedestrian, as usual. Oh, well.
But! I'm looking forward to tonight, when hordes of young (and not-so-young) children descend upon my neighborhood in search of treats. Last year, we had nearly 300 trick or treaters come to our house, so you can see that it's serious business in my neck of the woods.
Everywhere, though, Halloween is a time when it's important to take extra care moving about, whether you're on foot, bike, or car.
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has put together these tips for Halloween safety. Check 'em out! And have a safe weekend!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Measure twice, cut once
Last night, I was walking down Elm Street in Davis Square past the bus stop in front of the Social Security office and Dunkin Donuts. As usual, there was a big crowd of people waiting on and around the bench for a bus. And since it was prime after-work time, there was a lot of car and foot traffic around and about, too.
The sidewalk there is about 8 feet wide, and it's an extremely high-traffic spot. Both the Dunk and the Social Security office have a lot of visitors, the bus stop, especially during rush hour, probably has no fewer than 10 people waiting at any given time, and often 20 or more. And, of course, there are a lot of people walking by on their way to or from engagements in Davis Square.
This sidewalk, I thought to myself as I stepped off the curb and into the street to get around the mass of people waiting for a bus, is insufficient. It's insufficient for any of the uses it sees at rush hour, much less all of them. And it leads to pedestrians stepping out into the street in order to get by, not to mention a lot of frustration and annoyance for all involved.
But what can you do about a sidewalk that's not wide enough? Obviously, taking down the buildings and pushing them back isn't an option. The best bet in this case, actually, is probably a curb extension, which would approximately double the width of the sidewalk and could provide plenty of waiting room for bus riders while clearing the rest of the sidewalk for through foot traffic. This would not lose parking, since the curb would extend into the bus zone, but it would mean that one lane of traffic would be blocked when buses stop to load and unload passengers, which would make it a hard sell.
This got me thinking about the importance of careful and thoughtful design at the beginning of any development. In most cases in urban settings, we're working within the constraints of previous decisions with regards to the built-environment, and that limits what we can do going forward. This will always be true, so it's super important for planners and designers to consider all the uses an area might see. These days, as we look ahead to increasingly costly personal-vehicle use, we know that pedestrian and bike uses of streets will represent more and more of the traffic, especially in dense neighborhoods where that's realistically likely to be a major portion of people's daily trips.
This is one of the reasons that I think the work of WalkBoston is so important. The decisions we make today have a real, immediate, and long-term impact on people, communities and neighborhoods. The fact that I have to step into the street to get through shows a failure in the past to effectively foresee the current uses, and that failure constrains how we can respond now. We're not always going to foresee in an accurate way, but it's incumbent upon us to think carefully about our decisions. At WalkBoston, we daily raise this kind of issue with urban designers and planners to keep all street uses on the table in the planning process.
The sidewalk there is about 8 feet wide, and it's an extremely high-traffic spot. Both the Dunk and the Social Security office have a lot of visitors, the bus stop, especially during rush hour, probably has no fewer than 10 people waiting at any given time, and often 20 or more. And, of course, there are a lot of people walking by on their way to or from engagements in Davis Square.
This sidewalk, I thought to myself as I stepped off the curb and into the street to get around the mass of people waiting for a bus, is insufficient. It's insufficient for any of the uses it sees at rush hour, much less all of them. And it leads to pedestrians stepping out into the street in order to get by, not to mention a lot of frustration and annoyance for all involved.
But what can you do about a sidewalk that's not wide enough? Obviously, taking down the buildings and pushing them back isn't an option. The best bet in this case, actually, is probably a curb extension, which would approximately double the width of the sidewalk and could provide plenty of waiting room for bus riders while clearing the rest of the sidewalk for through foot traffic. This would not lose parking, since the curb would extend into the bus zone, but it would mean that one lane of traffic would be blocked when buses stop to load and unload passengers, which would make it a hard sell.
This got me thinking about the importance of careful and thoughtful design at the beginning of any development. In most cases in urban settings, we're working within the constraints of previous decisions with regards to the built-environment, and that limits what we can do going forward. This will always be true, so it's super important for planners and designers to consider all the uses an area might see. These days, as we look ahead to increasingly costly personal-vehicle use, we know that pedestrian and bike uses of streets will represent more and more of the traffic, especially in dense neighborhoods where that's realistically likely to be a major portion of people's daily trips.
This is one of the reasons that I think the work of WalkBoston is so important. The decisions we make today have a real, immediate, and long-term impact on people, communities and neighborhoods. The fact that I have to step into the street to get through shows a failure in the past to effectively foresee the current uses, and that failure constrains how we can respond now. We're not always going to foresee in an accurate way, but it's incumbent upon us to think carefully about our decisions. At WalkBoston, we daily raise this kind of issue with urban designers and planners to keep all street uses on the table in the planning process.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Presidential Campaigns in Boston Walk: Saturday, November 1, 10:00AM
Hey! Do you have plans this weekend?
Oh, sure, we're all dressing up and handing out candy on Friday, but what are you doing on Saturday morning? How about a walk?
Join us for our Presidential Campaigns in Boston Walk this Saturday morning 10-11:30AM. ($10/members free)
Walk with Clint Richmond, author of "Political Places of Boston," to places where presidential candidates have campaigned with speeches, rallies, and fundraising since 1860. Sites will include the iconic "Cradle of Liberty," the 2004 Convention, and the backrooms of Boston politicking.
Meet at 60 State Street, T-accessible by the Blue and Orange lines, near the State Street Station stop.
Oh, sure, we're all dressing up and handing out candy on Friday, but what are you doing on Saturday morning? How about a walk?
Join us for our Presidential Campaigns in Boston Walk this Saturday morning 10-11:30AM. ($10/members free)
Walk with Clint Richmond, author of "Political Places of Boston," to places where presidential candidates have campaigned with speeches, rallies, and fundraising since 1860. Sites will include the iconic "Cradle of Liberty," the 2004 Convention, and the backrooms of Boston politicking.
Meet at 60 State Street, T-accessible by the Blue and Orange lines, near the State Street Station stop.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Volunteer needed: graphic design for our enews
Here at WalkBoston, we're working on updating the format of our enews, and we could use a couple of hours of help from someone with expertise in graphic design for electronic communications. Is that you? Drop me a note!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Cold weather walking
Now that the weather around Boston is starting to get blustery and cold, I know a lot of people have a more difficult time motivating themselves out the door for a walk.
I know that, for myself, there are a couple of hurdles to get over when I'm thinking about walking in cooler weather. First, if I'm comfortable in my house or office, it's pretty tough to get excited to step out into the cold. If I'm a little chilly, as sometimes happens if I'm sitting still indoors, it's even more difficult to consider going out! The best way for me to encourage myself up and out, in either case, is to think about the good things about getting outside. If the sun's out, even if it's cold, I'll be glad for a hit of bright light. If it's grey, I just focus on feeling good through movement or getting errands done. I must admit, this doesn't always work, so if any of you have other ideas here, I'm all ears.
Once I'm feeling inspired to leave the house, there's the issue of dressing appropriately. In warm weather, all I have to do is put on comfortable shoes and be on my way. In the cooler months, there's the additional step of bundling up. Of course, I can't recommend this enough. Nothing will hamstring my decision to stay active in cold weather like one or two walks that see me arriving home with a case of hypothermia. If I do that in October, you're not going to see me leaving the house voluntarily until April, maybe May. So I'm a big fan of bundling up. I don't care if it makes me look silly (okay, well, I care a little bit, but I get over it) to wear a hat, scarf, gloves, three sweaters, and two pairs of long underpants under my winter coat. I understand this is particularly difficult for people who come from warmer climates. Trust me; having the right clothing for being outdoors makes a big difference in your experience of time spent out and about. SRSLY.
I'm a big believer in structurally encouraging myself to do the things I know I want to do, so I like to make plans to have hot cocoa at a coffee shop that's a pleasant walk from my house, for example, so I'm motivated (i.e., forced) to leave the house, but there's a built-in reward at the end. I mean, a reward beyond the satisfaction of getting up and moving around, which can be hard to get excited about when you're cozy on the comfy couch in the middle of winter, for sure.
I know that, for myself, there are a couple of hurdles to get over when I'm thinking about walking in cooler weather. First, if I'm comfortable in my house or office, it's pretty tough to get excited to step out into the cold. If I'm a little chilly, as sometimes happens if I'm sitting still indoors, it's even more difficult to consider going out! The best way for me to encourage myself up and out, in either case, is to think about the good things about getting outside. If the sun's out, even if it's cold, I'll be glad for a hit of bright light. If it's grey, I just focus on feeling good through movement or getting errands done. I must admit, this doesn't always work, so if any of you have other ideas here, I'm all ears.
Once I'm feeling inspired to leave the house, there's the issue of dressing appropriately. In warm weather, all I have to do is put on comfortable shoes and be on my way. In the cooler months, there's the additional step of bundling up. Of course, I can't recommend this enough. Nothing will hamstring my decision to stay active in cold weather like one or two walks that see me arriving home with a case of hypothermia. If I do that in October, you're not going to see me leaving the house voluntarily until April, maybe May. So I'm a big fan of bundling up. I don't care if it makes me look silly (okay, well, I care a little bit, but I get over it) to wear a hat, scarf, gloves, three sweaters, and two pairs of long underpants under my winter coat. I understand this is particularly difficult for people who come from warmer climates. Trust me; having the right clothing for being outdoors makes a big difference in your experience of time spent out and about. SRSLY.
I'm a big believer in structurally encouraging myself to do the things I know I want to do, so I like to make plans to have hot cocoa at a coffee shop that's a pleasant walk from my house, for example, so I'm motivated (i.e., forced) to leave the house, but there's a built-in reward at the end. I mean, a reward beyond the satisfaction of getting up and moving around, which can be hard to get excited about when you're cozy on the comfy couch in the middle of winter, for sure.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Physical activity guidelines
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released their 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (that link will take you to the summary of their recommendations). In even more summary form: The findings won't surprise anyone. The recommendation is that people should engage in physical activity. Some is better than none and more (quantity, intensity, frequency) is better.
I have a couple of problems with these guidelines:
First, I believe the "some is better than none" message gets obscured by the "more is better" message. I see it as being easy for people to feel discouraged by their perception that they aren't doing enough, and thereby doing even less, because they're never going to reach the recommended amounts of activity, so what's the point? So, let me say: Some is better than none! Get up and walk around the block, or walk to the store, or walk around your house while you're talking on the phone or brushing your teeth or waiting for your spouse to get ready to head out the door. Making small changes to your habits can be an effective way to increase your activity level and make it easier to make larger changes.
Second, the guidelines are, predictably, in a very structured format. I mean, hey, that's what guidelines are, right? But I don't see this as a particularly organic way for people to integrate activity into their lives. I know there are people who look at it as a checklist item with a set-aside time-frame, and that's great, but for the rest of us, hearing that we should be aiming for 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity each week is a little abstract. What does that mean for me?
Finally, this is a great example of how we put our activities in different categories and don't let them blend between each other. Work for 8 hours a day, exercise for 30 minutes a day, sleep for 8 hours, etc. To my thinking, this makes physical activity a chore to be checked off a list rather than a pleasurable component of a good, healthy, happy life.
So, I know the US Department of Health and Human Services can't say something like this, and they might not even agree with it, but my guidelines for physical activity are a little more lax: Get up and move. Make it a habit. Make it a part of your life that doesn't take any serious thought or feel like a chore. Move because it makes you feel good, and it helps you see your neighborhood and your world or because it gives you time to think or not to think. Be active for yourself and for whatever reasons speak to you most. Want to join me for a walk? Let's!
I have a couple of problems with these guidelines:
First, I believe the "some is better than none" message gets obscured by the "more is better" message. I see it as being easy for people to feel discouraged by their perception that they aren't doing enough, and thereby doing even less, because they're never going to reach the recommended amounts of activity, so what's the point? So, let me say: Some is better than none! Get up and walk around the block, or walk to the store, or walk around your house while you're talking on the phone or brushing your teeth or waiting for your spouse to get ready to head out the door. Making small changes to your habits can be an effective way to increase your activity level and make it easier to make larger changes.
Second, the guidelines are, predictably, in a very structured format. I mean, hey, that's what guidelines are, right? But I don't see this as a particularly organic way for people to integrate activity into their lives. I know there are people who look at it as a checklist item with a set-aside time-frame, and that's great, but for the rest of us, hearing that we should be aiming for 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity each week is a little abstract. What does that mean for me?
Finally, this is a great example of how we put our activities in different categories and don't let them blend between each other. Work for 8 hours a day, exercise for 30 minutes a day, sleep for 8 hours, etc. To my thinking, this makes physical activity a chore to be checked off a list rather than a pleasurable component of a good, healthy, happy life.
So, I know the US Department of Health and Human Services can't say something like this, and they might not even agree with it, but my guidelines for physical activity are a little more lax: Get up and move. Make it a habit. Make it a part of your life that doesn't take any serious thought or feel like a chore. Move because it makes you feel good, and it helps you see your neighborhood and your world or because it gives you time to think or not to think. Be active for yourself and for whatever reasons speak to you most. Want to join me for a walk? Let's!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday, October 23: Pedestrianism in Belmont
Next Thursday evening at 7:30, I'll be speaking in Belmont on issues related to walking-friendly neighborhoods and snow clearance.
Join WalkBoston and representatives of other community and government agencies for an evening discussion of benefits of and challenges to walking in and around Belmont.
We'll be in the Belmont Public Library Auditorium at 336 Concord Avenue, Belmont MA.
And, of course, other neighborhoods or organizations that would like to have WalkBoston attend a meeting or event to talk about issues relating to walking, that's one of our favorite things to do!
Join WalkBoston and representatives of other community and government agencies for an evening discussion of benefits of and challenges to walking in and around Belmont.
We'll be in the Belmont Public Library Auditorium at 336 Concord Avenue, Belmont MA.
And, of course, other neighborhoods or organizations that would like to have WalkBoston attend a meeting or event to talk about issues relating to walking, that's one of our favorite things to do!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Franklin Park walk, Thursday, October 16
Join me and others for a wonderful walk around Franklin Park tomorrow evening from 5:30 to 7.
About the walk: Follow trails past unfamiliar parts of Frederick Law Olmsted's renowned park with Christine Poff of the Franklin Park Coalition and with walkers from the Uphams Corner Health Center walking program.
Where to meet: Meet at the Valley Gates parking area on the main park road across from the golf course
How to get there: MBTA - Orange Line to Forest Hills Station, MBTA Bus #16 to Valley Gates
About the walk: Follow trails past unfamiliar parts of Frederick Law Olmsted's renowned park with Christine Poff of the Franklin Park Coalition and with walkers from the Uphams Corner Health Center walking program.
Where to meet: Meet at the Valley Gates parking area on the main park road across from the golf course
How to get there: MBTA - Orange Line to Forest Hills Station, MBTA Bus #16 to Valley Gates
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
International Walk to School Day! Wednesday, October 8
Hey, parents!
Did you know that tomorrow is International Walk to School Day?
How are you going to celebrate it?
Did you know that tomorrow is International Walk to School Day?
How are you going to celebrate it?
Greenway Inauguration in review
I'd like to tell you all about the fabulous activities and events that happened at the Rose Kennedy Greenway Inauguration this Saturday, but I can't, because I spent the whole time at the WalkBoston table, handing out stickers, maps, brochures and talking about the importance of a pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. We had beautiful weather, and loads of people stopped by and shared their stories of pleasures and challenges walking in their various communities.
By the end of the day, we'd handed out so many of our bright orange and green stickers that people from other parts of the Greenway came seeking us out wanting to know what they were all about.
Big thanks to our many volunteers: Georgette, James, Reggie, Karla, and Daniel!
By the end of the day, we'd handed out so many of our bright orange and green stickers that people from other parts of the Greenway came seeking us out wanting to know what they were all about.
Big thanks to our many volunteers: Georgette, James, Reggie, Karla, and Daniel!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Fall walking pleasures
Last night, I was walking home by one of my favorite routes, which takes me past a neighbor's house with a spectacular set of rose bushes, and then, serendipitously, through fall's first pile of dry leaves on the sidewalk.
I don't know what my neighbors do to get the blooms they do, but whatever it is, it's brilliant. Four or five times a year -- June through November -- the six rose bushes in front of their house are loaded with beautiful, wonderfully scented flowers. I love it, and I make it a point to walk by their house when the roses are in bloom so I can stop and smell them.
As fall approaches, another feature I enjoy in my walks is walking through piles of leaves. Now, I know this is an able-bodied pleasure, and the piles of leaves can be an issue for people who are less sure-footed or on crutches or in wheelchairs, and even for me, after a rain, a big pile of leaves represents a real slipping hazard. Still, I take a deep pleasure in wading through a pile of crispy leaves along my way.
I don't know what my neighbors do to get the blooms they do, but whatever it is, it's brilliant. Four or five times a year -- June through November -- the six rose bushes in front of their house are loaded with beautiful, wonderfully scented flowers. I love it, and I make it a point to walk by their house when the roses are in bloom so I can stop and smell them.
As fall approaches, another feature I enjoy in my walks is walking through piles of leaves. Now, I know this is an able-bodied pleasure, and the piles of leaves can be an issue for people who are less sure-footed or on crutches or in wheelchairs, and even for me, after a rain, a big pile of leaves represents a real slipping hazard. Still, I take a deep pleasure in wading through a pile of crispy leaves along my way.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Greenway Inauguration!
This weekend, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the park portion of the infamous Big Dig highway construction project, celebrates its official inauguration with a number of events and activities on and near the Greenway itself. I'll be representing WalkBoston there at a table in Dewey Square, and there's a whole slew of fun and interesting stuff happening, including lots of activities for kids. Check it out!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Safe walking habits
The last couple of weeks, I've been getting involved with our Safe Routes to School trainings at elementary schools around the state. In these, we go to elementary schools, train parents, teachers and other volunteers in the skills we want them to teach the kids, and then we all take small groups of kids out walking around the school to practice those skills and begin developing safe walking habits.
One of the interesting observations I've made in this process is what bad habits the adults have -- myself included! It's less urgent that adults have good habits in looking out for our own safety, because we are generally more observant and aware of our surroundings than your average 2nd or 3rd grader, but it presents a challenge to our volunteers to model good walking habits when their own habits demonstrate their own lack of concern with regards to, for example, making sure that cars in all lanes of traffic have stopped before they enter the crosswalk.
I've also noticed that over the course of working with 3 or 5 classrooms in succession, the adults get much better, smoother, and more comfortable with the material and enacting the behaviors we hope to impress upon the children. This makes me think how important it is that children be regularly exposed to safe walking in practice and also in discussion. Kids often know the right answer, even as they enact bad habits.
For example, I might ask a couple of kids at a crosswalk, "What do you need to do to cross safely here?" And they certainly know the answer is, "Look both ways!" But very often, looking both ways simply involves turning their heads without actually paying attention to what they see.
This is all a reminder to me to take more care with my own walking habits, and not to assume that cars will do what I expect them to do at crosswalks, traffic lights and other places that I encounter them as a pedestrian. It also reminds me, though, to talk about safe walking when I'm out and about with kids, rather than simply leading the way and figuring they'll pick up the right thing to do by osmosis.
One of the interesting observations I've made in this process is what bad habits the adults have -- myself included! It's less urgent that adults have good habits in looking out for our own safety, because we are generally more observant and aware of our surroundings than your average 2nd or 3rd grader, but it presents a challenge to our volunteers to model good walking habits when their own habits demonstrate their own lack of concern with regards to, for example, making sure that cars in all lanes of traffic have stopped before they enter the crosswalk.
I've also noticed that over the course of working with 3 or 5 classrooms in succession, the adults get much better, smoother, and more comfortable with the material and enacting the behaviors we hope to impress upon the children. This makes me think how important it is that children be regularly exposed to safe walking in practice and also in discussion. Kids often know the right answer, even as they enact bad habits.
For example, I might ask a couple of kids at a crosswalk, "What do you need to do to cross safely here?" And they certainly know the answer is, "Look both ways!" But very often, looking both ways simply involves turning their heads without actually paying attention to what they see.
This is all a reminder to me to take more care with my own walking habits, and not to assume that cars will do what I expect them to do at crosswalks, traffic lights and other places that I encounter them as a pedestrian. It also reminds me, though, to talk about safe walking when I'm out and about with kids, rather than simply leading the way and figuring they'll pick up the right thing to do by osmosis.
Friday, September 19, 2008
PARK(ing) Day
Once again, I'm missing the boat by posting about something late in the game. Bad blogger!
A couple of us just took a short jaunt out of the office to check out the PARK(ing) Day park put together by the Trust for Public Lands and staffed by, among others, folks from LivableStreets.
What's the story? They've taken over a parking spot downtown and converted it to a delightful little park where people were lounging, doing homework, eating lunch.
Next year, I want to see a whole series of these scattered across the city so WalkBoston can lead a walk to visit them!
A couple of us just took a short jaunt out of the office to check out the PARK(ing) Day park put together by the Trust for Public Lands and staffed by, among others, folks from LivableStreets.
What's the story? They've taken over a parking spot downtown and converted it to a delightful little park where people were lounging, doing homework, eating lunch.
Next year, I want to see a whole series of these scattered across the city so WalkBoston can lead a walk to visit them!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Franklin Park walk: tonight! 5:30
It occurred to me last night that I have missed several grand opportunities to walk with my friends and readers by failing to announce a regular walk I do each week and that, while targeted to a particular program I'm working on, is certainly open to one and all:
The program is Walking Prescriptions for People and Neighborhoods, and its goal is to increase habitual walking among the community of a local health center. We're about to revamp our walk schedule, but I'm certain that we're going to keep our Thursday night walks in Franklin Park, because they're one of the walks with steady attendance, and, well, to be honest, it's one of my favorite parts of every week, and I refuse to give it up.
Join me and others for a walk around Franklin Park any Thursday, meeting at 5:30 (we usually set out about 5:45) at the benches in front of the "Zebra" entrance for Franklin Park Zoo (near the intersection of Blue Hill Ave and Columbia Rd.)
Drop me a note (rcarson @ walkboston.org) if you have any questions or if you want me to look out for you this week or any week!
The program is Walking Prescriptions for People and Neighborhoods, and its goal is to increase habitual walking among the community of a local health center. We're about to revamp our walk schedule, but I'm certain that we're going to keep our Thursday night walks in Franklin Park, because they're one of the walks with steady attendance, and, well, to be honest, it's one of my favorite parts of every week, and I refuse to give it up.
Join me and others for a walk around Franklin Park any Thursday, meeting at 5:30 (we usually set out about 5:45) at the benches in front of the "Zebra" entrance for Franklin Park Zoo (near the intersection of Blue Hill Ave and Columbia Rd.)
Drop me a note (rcarson @ walkboston.org) if you have any questions or if you want me to look out for you this week or any week!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Walking at night
Thinking about the details that influence my walking routes for the last post here, I also started thinking a lot about how different it is to walk during the day versus at night. A route that is pleasant to walk during the day thanks to its seclusion may feel unsafe at night for the same reason, for example. But more than personal safety changes with the time of day.
Some places that I walk, especially in many of the old neighborhoods that exist in and around Boston, have pretty challenging walking conditions, including sidewalks that are too narrow when they pass by old trees, or that have been pushed into tall, cracked hills by those trees' roots. Brick sidewalks, already somewhat tricky are especially hazardous where they interact with tree roots. And all of these obstacles are even more challenging at night, because those same trees then block the streetlights' illumination of the sidewalk in those areas. This means that when I'm walking at night, I try to choose routes that avoid poorly-lit sidewalks that I know to have obstacles where they interact with trees.
Are there other issues that change your walking habits daytime vs. nighttime?
Some places that I walk, especially in many of the old neighborhoods that exist in and around Boston, have pretty challenging walking conditions, including sidewalks that are too narrow when they pass by old trees, or that have been pushed into tall, cracked hills by those trees' roots. Brick sidewalks, already somewhat tricky are especially hazardous where they interact with tree roots. And all of these obstacles are even more challenging at night, because those same trees then block the streetlights' illumination of the sidewalk in those areas. This means that when I'm walking at night, I try to choose routes that avoid poorly-lit sidewalks that I know to have obstacles where they interact with trees.
Are there other issues that change your walking habits daytime vs. nighttime?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Choosing a route
Walking to and from the nearest T station to my house involves a relatively straight shot from origin to destination, so I don't tend to put a lot of thought into selecting a route, especially because the most direct route is also the most pleasant, as it takes me on the community bike path near Davis Square. The Porter Square T stop is also a comfortable walk from my house, but it's a little further away, and the walk isn't as enjoyable, so I tend only to go that way when I need to stop at one of the stores in Porter Square on my way to wherever I'm going.
On the work end of my commute, however, I have many more choices. Park Street and Downtown Crossing are equidistant from my office, and neither involves a particularly more or less pleasant walk in comparison to the other. Further, there are a couple of routes from Park Street, equivalent in distance. So, how do I decide?
In general, I select the station that's in the right direction on the rail line for the direction I'm going. If I'm Davis-bound, I go to Park Street. Headed to Andrew? I go to Downtown Crossing.
On the other hand, the walk to Downtown Crossing is almost always much more crowded in the afternoon, and because I'm a relatively brisk walker, I often find crowded sidewalks annoying in the extreme.
One of the routes I can take from Park Street involves less in the way of crowds, typically, but more in the way of construction traffic, and it also takes me past an alley where two restaurants take their trash. Though I'm not particularly squeamish, walking past there can, at times, be stomach-turning, so despite my appreciation of the less crowded sidewalks, I've recently reverted to the other route.
What factors influence your choice of walking route?
On the work end of my commute, however, I have many more choices. Park Street and Downtown Crossing are equidistant from my office, and neither involves a particularly more or less pleasant walk in comparison to the other. Further, there are a couple of routes from Park Street, equivalent in distance. So, how do I decide?
In general, I select the station that's in the right direction on the rail line for the direction I'm going. If I'm Davis-bound, I go to Park Street. Headed to Andrew? I go to Downtown Crossing.
On the other hand, the walk to Downtown Crossing is almost always much more crowded in the afternoon, and because I'm a relatively brisk walker, I often find crowded sidewalks annoying in the extreme.
One of the routes I can take from Park Street involves less in the way of crowds, typically, but more in the way of construction traffic, and it also takes me past an alley where two restaurants take their trash. Though I'm not particularly squeamish, walking past there can, at times, be stomach-turning, so despite my appreciation of the less crowded sidewalks, I've recently reverted to the other route.
What factors influence your choice of walking route?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
RunBoston!
I'm just back from a wonderful vacation, during which I visited one of the least pedestrian-friendly cities I've ever seen (Las Vegas, NV) and one of the most pedestrian-friendly (Black Rock City, NV, aka the Burning Man arts festival). While I was away, lots of things happened here at WalkBoston, and today, I'm excited to announce one of them:
The Boston Athletic Association has chosen WalkBoston for one of its highly sought positions as an Official Boston Marathon Charity. As an official charity, we have been donated bib numbers to form RunBoston, a 2009 marathon team to help us raise much needed funds for our growing roster of programs and advocacy.
For those of you who don't keep track of the marathon circuit, this is a big deal because the Boston marathon is highly competitive. To run with a bib number, you have to either qualify by running another marathon in a qualifying time or you join a team like this one and raise money for a charity in the process of your training. For us here at WalkBoston, the fit between us and the marathon seemed obvious, and we're excited to link up with it!
For more information, check out the Boston Marathon's charity page.
The Boston Athletic Association has chosen WalkBoston for one of its highly sought positions as an Official Boston Marathon Charity. As an official charity, we have been donated bib numbers to form RunBoston, a 2009 marathon team to help us raise much needed funds for our growing roster of programs and advocacy.
For those of you who don't keep track of the marathon circuit, this is a big deal because the Boston marathon is highly competitive. To run with a bib number, you have to either qualify by running another marathon in a qualifying time or you join a team like this one and raise money for a charity in the process of your training. For us here at WalkBoston, the fit between us and the marathon seemed obvious, and we're excited to link up with it!
For more information, check out the Boston Marathon's charity page.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Great things afoot
It's not new or unique to remark upon the social joy of getting about on foot, but that doesn't detract from the deep pleasure I get every time I encounter a friend or acquaintance when running errands or traveling across town. When I'm in a car, or even on a bike, things and people pass by so quickly -- in a car, I may not even recognize a friend in her car passing the other way, and on bikes, we give a quick wave, but on foot, we can easily stop and have a brief chat. Maybe we're going the same way and can use that time to catch up on each other's lives.
Last week alone, I had this experience five times over the course of the week, including running into a former boss, whom I hadn't seen in about five years! It's a miracle we even recognized each other. I also bumped into a friend and got to hear about her adventures in buying a new condo, and found out that another acquaintance is expecting a baby in February, thanks to strolling around my neighborhood on one of these infrequent dry summer evenings.
It's not a surprise to have such encounters, in general, but each one is always a surprise in itself in who I see and what we talk about when we do.
Last week alone, I had this experience five times over the course of the week, including running into a former boss, whom I hadn't seen in about five years! It's a miracle we even recognized each other. I also bumped into a friend and got to hear about her adventures in buying a new condo, and found out that another acquaintance is expecting a baby in February, thanks to strolling around my neighborhood on one of these infrequent dry summer evenings.
It's not a surprise to have such encounters, in general, but each one is always a surprise in itself in who I see and what we talk about when we do.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Disproportionate subsidization
Though vehicles and pedestrians can happily coexist in many settings -- I have my sidewalk and they have their streets -- it's hard for a pedestrian not to feel a little cranky from time to time as policy decisions continually prioritize the infrastructure and culture of private vehicles over all other forms of transportation.
I've long been annoyed by the complaints people throw out about subsidies for public transit without acknowledging the massive subsidization of private vehicles currently practiced in the US.
Thanks to Slate and Daniel Gross, though, I know I'm not alone: Highways Paved with Gold
I've long been annoyed by the complaints people throw out about subsidies for public transit without acknowledging the massive subsidization of private vehicles currently practiced in the US.
Thanks to Slate and Daniel Gross, though, I know I'm not alone: Highways Paved with Gold
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