The N&R’s Doug Clark —-citing a Washington Post analysis of pedestrian deaths nationwide —concludes “Southern cities are meanest for walkers.”
Why Southern cities in particular?
“Nearly all of these cities have grown up in the age of the automobile, at a post-World War II time when we focused less on designing places for pedestrians because society had broadly acquired the luxury of driving instead,” Emily Badger writes.
Makes sense. But it’s time to change. Making more communities more pedestrian-friendly is good policy for reasons of lifestyle, environment and safety.
Charlotte has done exactly that —adopting New Urbanist policies ranging from the light rail line to high-density development in an effort to make the city more walkable. And where does Charlotte rank? 10th.
Note in the comments to both Clark’s post and the WP post that readers are considering more factors than just ‘mean Southern cities.’ One of the commenter is N&R publisher Jeff “Grits” Gauger, who cites the “South’s walking-friendly weather year round,” a factor “Dorothy form Columbus at the Post’s blog supports:
Duh! Warmer weather = people walk more; people walk more = more pedestrian foot traffic which equals higher fatality rate. Back to school for remedial statistics Ms. Badger.
Another factor is careless pedestrians —ever seen anyone walking down the street talking or texting these days?
As a walker and a runner, here’s my philosophy — I never assume what the other guy behind the wheel is going to do whether I’m on foot or behind the wheel.
