Monthly Archive for October, 2012

This is a guest post from Heather Roberts

Living in a city of any large size be it Seattle or any other place offers great opportunities for some scenic routes, though there are some aspects of that that may need addressing. Walking and running are great ways to stimulate ourselves and to bring back that energy and drive we all need as time goes by. There are plenty of things in the urban environment which may get in our way so here are a few useful tips on the subject that may help you out:

1. Use local parks
   Although this is the most obvious choice for city walks and running many people still prefer to run around the neighborhood or down certain trails. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but parks offer the best air quality in cities and they have much less factors which may interrupt your training or walking. Keep in mind that big cities often suffer from excessive pollution regardless of the best attempts of the local government and that even the small amounts of smog we inhale daily are very bad for our overall health. The colder months of the year are known for better air quality than the hot and humid days of summer, so plan accordingly. For the most part Seattle is a much cleaner and better place than, say, some parts of New York, so it isn’t much of an issue but parks are still preferable spots. A great place is Washington Park and Gas Works Park also offers a neat place to walk and run and a great view of the skyline by Lake Union.
2. Running in town
   You can always walk and run outside parks and the usual trails though you should always be aware of the traffic being there to cut you off and get in your way. There are a lot of nice places in town where you can enjoy a change of pace from the usual paths though there are a few things you should always keep in mind and most of all safety. Avoid running or walking in places you’ve never been to after dark and always carry your ID and enough cash tucked away safely where its unlikely to be found like socks or inner pockets of clothes. The areas Downtown and around Pike and Pine streets, South Dearborn Street to Yesler Way and to the east of I-5 on Yesler Way have been reported as the most common concentration of violent crimes by the Seattle PD. The last area is known for the murder of police officer Timothy Brenton back in 2009. Being in these areas in the dead of night and cutting corners through alleys is a recipe for trouble on the wrong day. Overall Seattle is much safer than other cities like New York or LA, but you should still use common sense when walking or running after dark.
3. Embrace the city
   Interruptions are bound to happen when you walk the streets so be patient at crosswalks and traffic lights and if you’re running use the opportunity to stretch or do some squats instead of impatiently pacing in place. The city has a flow of its own, feel its rhythm and accept it as inevitable. When you are walking make sure you take breaks and pay attention to how your feet feel – concrete and asphalt are one of the worst surfaces to walk and run on because of their poor shock-absorbing qualities. This can give you joint pain and if you’re not wearing comfortable shoes even blisters. Use your common sense and do things in moderation.

This is a guest post from Heather Roberts. If you need more interesting destinations check: http://www.vacation-rentals.com/blog

This is a guest post from David Sportsman of Degree Jungle, a college student resource site.

Creating a more accessible and safer walking environment should be every locale’s goal. Seattle has realized how important it is to ensure the safety of its citizens ranging from students to professionals to senior citizens. People face several common pedestrian issues that are grouped as such:

• Safety and Security
• Crossing the Road
• Walking Along the Sidewalk
• Destinations/Locations
• Making a Change

Safety and Security

There are specific issues that can be addressed; motorists or drivers drive too fast around the campuses, and students or pedestrians steering clear of walking at night to avoid accidents. In addition, there are some pedestrian laws that are not followed or acknowledged by cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists on and around the campuses. Other issues involve a large number of crashes entailing pedestrians, and the lack of access for pedestrians with physical disabilities.

Crossing the Road

Although crossing the street is not seemingly a difficult thing to do, there are some issues that many motorists and pedestrians come across. There are a number of people that find it difficult to cross the streets or roads especially when the streets or roads are extremely busy. Fortunately, there are tools that can be used to improve the safety of pedestrians when it comes to crossing the street. The street or road crossing experience normally comes down to the behaviors of the motorists and the pedestrians.

In addition, it involves the crossing or intersection designs. The driving speed is just one of the many factors that influences the motorist’s behavior. It is safe to say that a motorist that drives his or her car slowly has more time to look around, react on time when he or she needs to, and to stop for pedestrians. When there are more students on the street, they enhance the motorists’ attentiveness.

Walking Along the Sidewalk

Moving along the sidewalks is one of the key components of a campus that are safe to walk on. The conditions of the sidewalks, as well as along the roads and streets influence the students’ comfort, safety, travel, orientation, and the community’s visual quality. Sidewalks that are blocked by poles, trees, trash bins or cars make it difficult for pedestrians to walk there. For this reason, it could be dangerous, especially when the street or road is busy and the students have to make use of the busy sidewalks. Sidewalks that are not properly maintained by the community are another issue that can influence the safety of pedestrians.

Destinations/Locations

Well kept destinations or locations encourage students to walk. Attractive campuses with beautiful trees, stunning blossoms with varied intoxicating scents, and perfectly manicured bushes will definitely encourage more students to walk, as opposed to areas with too many buildings, garages and parking lots around or nearby the campuses.

Making a Change

The pedestrian issues that many students around campuses face can be solved by discussing the issues with the campus officials or even with the community members in the surrounding neighborhoods. By working together, it makes it easier to care for and maintain the campuses, sidewalks, roads, and streets. It is advisable to discuss necessary funding that could improve or enhance the safety of students and pedestrians.

David Sportsman is an experienced freelance writer who has an extensive knowledge on a wide range of subjects. He contributes to Degree Jungle a college student resource site.

A few local news items and links:

• Town Hall Seattle is hosting a Walkable Cities event with planner, architectural designer, and author Jeff Speck to speak about creating walkable cities. “Speck, co-author of the landmark bestseller “Suburban Nation” and author of the new “Walkable City,” offers insight into what urban planners actually do and how cities can and do change, laying out a practical—and eminently achievable—vision of how to make our cities work.” The event is on November 19 at 7:30 pm
• SDOT is accepting applications for mini grants to fund projects that educate students about pedestrian and bicycle safety and encourage walking and biking to school.
• Feet First is accepting applications for the International Walk to School challenge.
• The Thomas Street Overpass for pedestrians and bicycles is now open
• Seattle Neighborhood Greenways have a calendar of local walking and biking events.
• Walking in Seattle is on Twitter – follow us on Twitter