Carbon Trace is also supposed to be about walking, but I don’t spend much time writing about it. Perhaps I need to change that. The last few weeks have given me much to think about because the weather has kept me on foot.
I’m prepared to ride my bicycle no matter what the temperature is. My daughter travels to school with me. I don’t ask her to ride when it’s below freezing.
Some things I’ve been thinking:
- Our urban/street environment makes walking feel like a low socio-economic activity.
- Walking is a lonely activity, perhaps having something to do with thought #1.
- Crossing the street at some intersections is dangerous because they have been designed for cars and trucks, not pedestrians.
- Walking opens up large blocks of time for thinking, but not socializing (yet).
Today in the planning class I’m taking we discussed the compact nature of European cities. Walking is a normal mode of transportation because of scale of urban European neighborhoods encourages it. Let’s add a fifth item to my list above: Springfield’s downtown could get a lot more walkable with just a few more improvements, e.g. the continued renovation of the Square, more loft/apartment housing, and supporting retail.
Have I mentioned that my family is discussing moving downtown? More on this soon…
Comments 3
An interesting thought about walking being a lonely activity when driving is essentially taking place in an aquarium cut off from the outside world. I don’t agree as I feel more in tuned with the world around me on foot, as with my bicycle.
Also, I live downtown and the BIGGEST need is for a grocery store (one was rumored for the Wheeler’s location but went away when the economy tanked). There is the Downtown Market on Campbell, but that’s more a liquor store that happens to sell a canned goods (I still went there when I lived across the street).
Posted 25 Feb 2010 at 2:58 pm ¶A.J… Yes, we are supposed to get a downtown market. Let’s hope the Great Recession hasn’t killed that idea.
As for lonely, I mean it in the sense that I don’t see many people doing it until I get to campus. Walking downtown in a different matter. And, yes, the whole connection thing.
Posted 26 Feb 2010 at 7:18 am ¶If you want more interaction when you walk make sure to go against the flow of traffic and watch the passengers ride by. You’ll make eye contact with some and I bet that’ll make you feel less isolated.
I think part of the reason walking feels like a low socioeconomic activity is because so much of it takes place near roads where cars are producing exhaust. My logic may be off here but it seems like an effort is made to keep overt pollution away from the wealthy and so the presence of this exhaust makes it feel like an impoverished area (which, for all the fumes, it is).
As for the downtown market, I like the idea. I’ve wondered about opening up a deli/convenience store down there. Sell pre-made sandwiches and/or hot soup to downtown residents and employees who don’t want to cook but don’t feel like paying more for a full service meal. Limited seating or, to avoid the whole toilet situation, maybe no seating. Sales of sundries and a few fresh produce items. Something along those lines might work. If you’ve got a lot of money burning a whole in your safe deposit box and want to discuss this any further, let me know:)
Posted 26 Feb 2010 at 1:14 pm ¶