Day in and day out, our legislators, city planners and county officials work hard to not only maintain, but to also improve our quality of life in the city. It’s no small task, since a metropolitan area like Phoenix – with more than 3 million residents – requires a lot to keep everyone satisfied.
In the long run, what truly contributes to the quality of urban life is not as obvious as you may think. For most people, and for those working at the Arizona State Capitol especially, the answer is probably a monotonous chant: Jobs! Industry! Development! A thriving economy!
It’s mostly true, but only to an extent. Roads need to be paved so that we can drive the 5-mile commute between our homes and the nearest grocery store. Freeways need to be maintained. How else would we make the 30-minute or even hour-long car rides just to go from home to work?
But the truth is, a defining characteristic that lifts quality of life, booms localized economies, and fosters a sense of community in any city is walkability.
A 2010 study conducted by the University of New Hampshire found that people who live in cities with greater walk score ratings, which is one way to measure walkability, are overall happier, healthier and more engaged with their community.
Imagine that — being able to go to your home, school, work, the grocery store, the movie theater and your favorite coffee joint all without using a car.
No, this is not science fiction. This is what a mature, well-designed city looks like.
Not surprisingly, walkscore.com ranks Tempe as the most walkable city in Arizona, followed by Tucson and Flagstaff. The out-of-control sprawling monster of a city that is Phoenix falls way behind on the chart.
While researching, I came across a man named Doug Guetzole, a conservative talk-show host and political thinker in Tampa, Fla.
In one of his broadcasts, he made some widely ignorant, yet not uncommon views of what it means to “fight the sprawl,” which he claims to be un-American. For Guetzole, it’s the American dream to burn a gallon of gas in an oversized SUV just to pick up some eggs at Wal-Mart.
“To live where you want and buy as much homestead as you can afford and not see your neighbor ... is as American as apple pie,” he said.
Even though this sounds like a joke, I know there are too many people who feel the same way. Cities are not built with roads and development — they are built on community and relationships, which is why it’s important we make it a demand that our towns become more walkable.
Unlike Guetzole, I think that there’s nothing more American than apple pie that you bought from the local bakery down the street without needing to get in your car.
Reach the columnist at damills3@asu.edu
