A survey from the American Podiatric Medical Association looked at five hundred cities around the United States and ranked them based on walkability. The researchers looked for things like green spaces for walking, what percentage of the population walks to work, how safe the streets are, and more.
Here are some of the winners!
I’m pleased to see my own new home of Portland, Oregon made the list, thanks to the efforts of the community to make the town more walkable. Other towns that are working to improve walkability include Trenton, NJ, Denver, CO, and Kansas City, MO. There are plenty of cities that already have a ton of folks who walk to work, like Tempe, AZ, Cincinnati, OH, and Burlington, VT.
A variety of stuff within walking distance from the center of town can increase a city’s walkability rating. Stores, restaurants, theaters, and other activities can encourage residents to walk, rather than ride. Among the top cities with walk-encouraging destinations are:
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- Atlanta, GA
- Chicago, IL
- New York, NY
However, I wouldn’t necessarily put New York City on the list of safest places to walk. There are some parts of town that are safer than others, for sure! Some of the safest cities for walking in the United States include Bozeman, MT, Fremont, NE, and Appleton, WI. These (and other cities on the “safest” list) are cities that have the fewest number of crimes based on population.
And when it comes to walking, you can’t beat a nice park. Des Moines, IA topped the list of cities with the most parks per square mile. Other green cities include Louisville, KY, Santa Fe, NM, Newport, RI, and Seattle, WA.
Some cities are just known for fitness — the following cities have the greatest percentage of people who walk for exercise:
- Fairbanks, AK
- Boise, ID
- Philadelphia, PA
Want to look at the whole list? Visit the American Podiatric Medical Association online.