Many years ago, lost in Barcelona, I asked a local for directions. The local pointed and said, “it is a 15 minute walk further down the street, and the bus stop to get there is just one block away.”
I wanted to scream, “Bus for a 15 minute walk? I am a New Yorker! I get my 10,000 steps every day just by going to work.”
As one of the 54% of New Yorkers who does not own a car, I count on subways, buses, and, most importantly, my legs to get everywhere. Pedestrians face countless battles on the streets, and we have many enemies: bicyclists on the sidewalk, bicyclists on the street, cars barely making (and not making) yellow lights, and adults on scooters.
Fortunately, we have had some help. City initiatives like Vision Zero have helped reduce pedestrian deaths by 45% over the last decade. There is still more that can be done to make the walking experience better, and that continues with us, walkers. Today, 2xParked will be exploring what the data says about being a better walker.
1. Put Down Your Cell Phone
You are off the subway and now approaching the stairway exit. Your pace has suddenly slowed to a turtle’s march. In front of you is a fellow departing straphanger staring at their screen. You can’t pass because of opposing traffic, and you can’t retreat because others have joined this nightmare conga line.
Studies have shown the engaging on your cell phone will slow down your walking pace. Although walking and texting is the worst phone sin, making you twice as slow, even talking on the phone will make you 20% slower on average. Not only are you a slower walker, but you are less fixated on your surroundings. With 59% of New Yorkers complaining of poor sidewalks, there are armies of bumps, lifts, and holes ready to take us down.
2. Slow Traffic to the Right
I realize in our NYC day-to-day, cell phone free walking is not always possible. When you are walking slowly for any reason, such as texting your mate about the latest March Madness scores, it is advisable to move over to the right.
Walking on the sidewalks is not much different than driving on a highway. Pull over to the right. Pass to the left. Although it is not necessarily illegal to pull over to the left or to pass from the right, it can be unsafe to break our driving norms. It is hypothesized that a reason the Autobahn has relatively low crash rates is because drivers are aware they must follow the highway’s decorum.
Even though the anecdote of “going 5mph faster is safer than going 5mph slower” has never been scientifically proven, the repercussions of driving slowly can be unsafe. For example, the mere action of trying to suddenly pass another driver puts you at a risk of 2.53 times greater of getting in a crash. Walkers do not have many of the crash preventative luxuries, such as rear view mirrors, backseat drivers, or beeping sounds.
3. Allow Space for Other Walkers
Sidewalks are narrow, often being less than 7 feet in width. An average person has a shoulder width of about 1.5 feet. There are about 30,000 New Yorkers per square mile. This does not leave a lot of walking space.
Groups of 3 or more walking shoulder-to-shoulder should try forming a U or V shape to allow people to pass by. If you have a tugging dog, make sure your leash does not take over the whole sidewalk. Otherwise, you are creating an unsafe walking environment by forcing others into the street.
One study found that NYC pedestrians who cross the street against the crossing signal were 56% more likely to die if they were in a car accident. Cars not expecting foot traffic are driving at higher speeds. When a walker is going head-to-head with a car, the car wins. It is best to avoid those circumstances.
4. Clean up after your Dog
There are over a half million dogs in the City. Since most of us do not have dog bathrooms in our apartments, the sidewalks are their toilet. Clean up your shit. Not only is it the law — although I have never personally heard anyone being fined $250 — it helps make our city a safer place for walkers who might step and spread.
One study found that Staphylococcus aureus, a methicillin-resistant bacteria which can cause quite a bit of damage to your gut and skin, was found in 0.7% of urban dog fecal samples. Additionally, a plethora of other bacteria becoming more and more anti-biotic resistant can be found in dog stool. Basically, these are not the kind of guests we want to invite over when we accidently step in your negligence.
Walk the Line
Walking is an example of the Nash Equilibrium. By sacrificing a little of our own optimal walking routine, we can create a safer and better walking environment. We all have beautiful minds. Following these steps will help us not lose them.
Great piece. Especially for a “major” walker!