Alternative Transportation: Walking

Out and About

•    Use sidewalks or paths when you can. If you must walk in the road or street, face oncoming traffic so you can see and be seen by approaching motorists.
•    Wear bright-colored clothing to make yourself more visible and, if you walk at night, carry a flashlight, wear reflective clothing, choose well-lighted areas, and be alert. Turn off your music player if you use one.
•    Pick an alternate route if the street is unsafe, avoid hazardous intersections, and obey traffic signs and signals.

What you should do

More and more communities are embracing “walkability.” You can be a part of this effort and enlist others as well. One place to start is with a walking club. If there isn’t one in your community, start one. AARP’s Create The Good offers step-by-step details on how to identify local partners, build a team, and set goals.
If your area lacks facilities or services, consider becoming an advocate for improvements.  Survey the “walkability” of your neighborhood, identifying safety hazards, lack of maintenance, and other issues that might discourage pedestrians or impede access to transit stops. Tally your results and share with authorities who can find real solutions. You’ll find a step-by-step guide in AARP’s Create The Good® “Sidewalks and Streets Survey.”