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California out front with most cities in the top 10 Best Fitness-Walking Cities of 2007
In the annual American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and Prevention Magazine survey of the nation’s most populous cities, California with #3 San Francisco, #7 San Diego, and #8 San Jose, had more cities in the top 10 Best-Walking cities than any other state. In fact no other state in the top 10 had more than one city listed in the top ten rankings.
Researchers ranked 100 cities based on fitness-walker friendliness using comprehensive criteria including:
• % of pop that walks for exercise
• Use of mass transit
• Parks per square mile
• Points of interest per square mile
• Avg winter/summer temperatures
• % of athletic shoe buyers
Top 10 Best Fitness-Walking Cities of 2007:
- Madison, WI: Adopted a walker-friendly plan 10 years ago, and it shows.
- Austin, TX: 50 trails, from a quarter to 10 miles long.
- San Francisco, CA: The most parks per square mile.
- Charlotte, NC: 40% of its residents walk for exercise.
- Seattle, WA: Gorgeous views of Puget Sound and snowcapped mountains.
- Henderson, NV: With an average yearly rainfall of 4.5 inches, you can walk every day.
- San Diego, CA: A unique choice of beach, desert and mountain routes.
- San Jose, CA: Perfect walking weather; average temp 61 degrees and low humidity.
- Chandler, AZ: 6.5 miles of traffic-free walking on its Paseo Trail.
- Virginia Beach, VA: A low crime rate and a boardwalk allow safe, fun strolling.
Bottom 5 Worst Fitness-Walking Cities of 2007:
100. Newark, NJ: Has a high crime rate, few parks, and few people who take mass transit—as well as the third smallest percentage of people who walk for exercise.
99. Laredo, TX: Poor air quality and the least amount of people taking mass transit.
98. Miami, FL: The fifth highest crime rate may explain why very few people walk for health.
97. Hialeah, FL: Very few parks and schools per square mile and had the second to
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