I'm from Los Angeles, the transportation capital of America. All I ever knew about traveling through cities was bumper-to-bumper traffic and smoggy skies. Once I entered college, my eyes were opened to the potential of a walkable city. Although very small, university campuses are designed to be walkable neighborhoods where residents live nearby and can commute to school (work), home, or friends' homes by bike or foot. Masu. .
Unfortunately, this privilege will never be seen again by college graduates, as there are very few walkable cities in this entire country. It is conceivable that an individual's productivity level in this campus environment may not be as reflective of their commuting lifestyle as expected.
Considering that cars emit more than 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, the negative environmental impact of single-person commuting is increasing every year. Although the total emissions of cars are not nearly as high as those of vehicles such as private jets, they are still a major contributor to rising temperatures and smoggy skies.
Are walkable cities just a pipe dream?
Major cities such as Amsterdam and Santa Barbara, California, have adopted this model. In Amsterdam, almost 60% of residents say they ride a bicycle every day, compared to 0.06% in the United States. Several streets in downtown Santa Barbara are completely closed to cars, with wide lanes reserved for bicycles. It's a strange feeling to walk down a busy street without the roar of cars passing by, the honking of their horns, or the smell of gasoline in the air. However, this should feel normal.
What are the benefits?
It has been scientifically proven that commuting takes a direct toll on our mental health. Every 10 minutes spent commuting increases the odds of depression. The average commute time for Americans is about 27 minutes, so it's safe to say that the mental health crisis is being influenced by increased commute times. As the population continues to grow, traffic congestion is likely to increase as well.
How does it work?
Transforming a commuter city into a walkable city won't happen overnight. Government officials will need to develop policies that encourage residents to work within walking or cycling distance of their homes. This could also be done by lowering rents for people who work within a certain radius of their workplace, or by providing incentives for people not to drive to work, such as through tax breaks or a universal basic income system. This may seem far-fetched, but cities that try it will ultimately improve. City-wide emissions will be significantly reduced, local businesses will be supported, and communities will grow as residents stay connected to their cities.
Ethan Sanders is a reporter for the Beacon. Contact him at sanders25@up.edu.
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