Walking: Pedestrian Citizenship

With great neighborhoods, parks and award-winning public space, St. Louisans have plenty of reasons to walk instead of drive, taking time to savor the beauty and interests of our unique metropolitan area. People – young and old – are recognizing that this is an ideal time to promote walking within their families and communities as a smart way to get exercise, save on gasoline, help the environment and encourage a more sustainable way of life for generations to come. Walking also is a wonderful way to meet people and strengthen our community’s social fabric.

The start of school is an excellent way to get in the swing of a new routine by walking your kids to and/or from school or putting some limits on teenage drivers by having them walk instead of drive a few times a week. Other ways you can help promote enjoyable walking in our community include:

• Pick up after your dog(s) on walks along with other plastic and paper trash you see.
• Say hello to other walkers you meet.
• Trim back shrubbery and branches that might inhibit clearance on sidewalks around your property.
• Remove ice and snow from your walkways in the winter.
• When driving, yield to pedestrians and slow down on private residential streets where kids and others are prone to step out into the street.
• Keep a walking log of the interesting sites and experiences you encounter.
• When walking at night, be sure to wear light colors and ideally wearable reflective clothing or patches.

If your neighborhood doesn’t have sidewalks, petition local government to help make these improvements.