Prevention: '25 Best Walking Cities'

New super spliffs

From an annual survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association and Sperling's Best Places, Prevention magazine offers the most pedestrian-friendly towns in the nation. Almost one in three are in California where the weather permits much pedestrian pleasure.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com


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Deadline Newsroom - Looking to buy a home in a town where walking is paramount? Look no further.

From an annual survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association and Sperling's Best Places, Prevention magazine offers the most pedestrian-friendly towns in the nation.

The largest group, seven of them, are in California.

Here is a look at the cream of the crop, the top 10 of the"25 Best Walking Cities". The list includes what the healthy lifestyle magazine says makes the towns tops for walks, and some of our own insight.

San Francisco -- Devotes 12 city government agencies to walking issue. A real cardio workout with all the hills.

Boston -- Longer WALK signals; bright, patterned intersections encourage more people to walk. Work off those beans.

New York -- Driving is stupid. Residents log the fewest vehicle miles. Stuff to see, places to go.

Philadelphia -- High density of schools mean many low speed limits and safer walking. A good way to work off those cheese steaks and Tastykakes.

Chicago -- The 18.5-mile Lakefront Path along Lake Michigan accessed from a variety of neighborhoods. The wind pushes and it pulls.

Washington, D.C. -- Extensive public transit system makes it easy to hoof it. Rock Creek Park.

Seattle -- Highest number of rail lines converted to trails. Clean air.

Honolulu -- Mix of desirable destinations. Just be careful of the humidity. Stay hydrated.

Portland -- For 10 years, the Pedestrian Advisory Committee has kept the City Council in line on transportation issues. More cardio hills.

Pittsburgh -- Last year, city appointed its first bicycle/pedestrian coordinator. Three river walking.

Rounding out the top 25 were:

Oakland, Minneapolis, San Diego, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Rochester, Santa Ana, San Jose, Denver, Columbus, New Orleans, Austin, Sacramento and Tucson.

Prevention also offers the best walking locations based on safety, family appeal, smaller communities, nature and fitness.

Take a walk.

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© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group, including DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site, and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. Perkins is also a National Real Estate Examiner. All the news that really hits home from three locations -- that's location, location, location!

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