Best Walking Cities 2008

The American Podiatric Medical Association and Prevention magazine collaborate each year on ranking the Best Walking Cities. The criteria change each year, and the list can have some really oddball choices on it based on the criteria. For 2008, they used a panel of experts drawn from pedestrian advocacy groups and urban space planning groups, and 14 criteria. Once again, it is a list with cities I love to walk in and at least one real head-scratcher. Just because a city makes this list, it doesn't mean it's a place I'd necessarily enjoy walking in.

10 Best Walking Cities 2008

1. Cambridge, MA: The criteria award this city number one mostly because it's a college town, so a larger percentage of the population walks to work. My local walking friends say it's an OK walking locale - flat, nice riverfront trail, nice views of Boston. But it probably doesn't deserve to be #1.
2. New York, NY: No argument, it's a great place to walk. Places to see, things to do, one of the best city parks in the world.
3. Ann Arbor, MI: Again, a college town so it's walk-to-work score outweighs the other criteria. There is a local walking club that actively hosts walks there, so it is probably a good place to walk. But worth being a destination or detour? Doubt it.
4. Chicago, IL: Another big city that ranks highly because it has lots of sights to see and good public transportation. I've generally enjoyed walking there, but the weather can be brutal - hot, cold, windy, etc.
5. Washington, DC: I'll take any excuse for a walking trip to DC. Love it. Not only do I enjoy walking the monuments, they have fantastic wooded trails for great long distance walking.
6. San Francisco, CA: California had several cities in the top 10 last year when climate and fitness walking were the focus. This year, only SF makes the list - because it has the fewest cars per household in the state and good public transportation. But that's faint praise - SF is packed with great places to walk. One of my all-time favorite walks was from Fisherman's Wharf, over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, then the ferry back.
7. Honolulu, HI: Honolulu also made the Top 10 Walks list this year. The experts say there are nice clusters of shops and services to walk to, as well as the great climate and scenery.
8. Trenton, NJ: This is my "what were they thinking?" choice. While the experts rated Trenton highly for wide sidewalks and other urban design for walkability, the walkers of the AVA say it is too dangerous for them to sanction a walk there. This is despite it being a state capital and therefore essential for AVA walkers to walk to earn their 50 Capitals award. They will only walk there as groups. During our AVA convention a couple of years ago, they had a guided walk on Saturday morning and encountered drug dealing, active police takedowns, aggressive panhandlers, and other activities that made it highly unfriendly walking.
9. Boston, MA: Boston always ranks as a favorite with walkers, with so much to see and do.
10. Cincinnati, OH: I walked a couple of walks in Cinci one December and had a great time. It might have been due to the local beer and friendly walking club members, but I also think it was just a nice walking city. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Those are the top, but they also rank the top city in each state, so you may want to visit the list and descriptions at Prevention's Best Walking Cities.
But what about the worst? Yes, they rank the 10 Worst Walking Cities - deserved or not?

APMA Best Walking Cities Program
Top 10 Fitness Walking Cities 2007
Top 10 Walking Cities 2006