A new report out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds conflicting trends in Americans' walking habits. What's clear, however, is that an astonishing 38% of adults have not walked more than 10 minutes straight in the last week.
Nate Berg discusses the oddly conflicting trends reported in a new study on the walking habits of America's adults published last week by the CDC. The good news is that more Americans are walking a minimum of 10 minutes at a time, once a week, than they did in 2005. And even though 38% were unable to meet that dismal threshold in 2010, 44% were unable five years earlier.
However, as Berg notes, "even while more adults are walking, the total amount they're walking
seems to be falling. According to the report, the average time walkers
spent walking dropped from about 15 minutes a day in 2005 to about 13
minutes a day in 2010."
With walking able to help prevent early death and chronic diseases such as
coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some
types of cancer, the CDC advises: "To sustain increases in the prevalence of walking, communities
can implement evidence-based strategies such as creating or enhancing
access to places for physical activity, or using design and land use
policies and practices that emphasize mixed-use communities and
pedestrian-friendly streets."
FULL STORY: Somehow We're Walking More and Walking Less At the Same Time
The Vicious Cycle at the Heart of Pedestrian Safety
When people feel unsafe, they walk less; with fewer pedestrians, walking becomes less safe.
The Joy of Walking
An essay meditating on the simple pleasures of a good walk.
Unsurprisingly, People Enjoy Walking More in Safe, Green Spaces
New research shows that people are likely to walk more in places that are both walkable and green.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
