Baltimore named one of nation’s most walkable cities

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Fresh air and avoiding $4-a-gallon gas — walking definitely has its advantages.

Charm City is home to three neighborhoods deemed a “walker’s paradise,” making Baltimore one of the most walkable cities in America.

Federal Hill, Fells Point and Inner Harbor were ranked as Baltimore’s most walkable neighborhoods, meaning “most errands can be accomplished by foot, and many people get by without owning a car,” according to Walk Score, a report by Seattle-based firm Front Seat.

Downtown, Jonestown and Canton also ranked high in terms of walkability.

“We don’t need a national study to know that Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods is one of the most walkable areas in the region,” said Mike Evitts, spokesman for Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. “The issue of walking has gained a lot of attention because gas prices are so high. The idea of living without a car or one less car is really appealing to people.”

The recent openings of grocery stores like SuperFresh and Whole Foods and retail outlets like Filene’s Basement and Best Buy have helped increase downtown walking traffic, Evitts said.

Baltimore as a city ranked 12th in terms of walkability among America’s 40 largest cities, just outside the top 10 behind Portland and Denver.

San Francisco, New York and Boston were the nation’s most walkable cities.

“Walking is great for so many reasons, including environmental, economic and health benefits,” said Jean DuBose, director of development for Parks & People Foundation in Baltimore. “We’re doing a lot of things to green the city’s sidewalks — like planting new trees — to encourage people to get out and walk.”

Washington, D.C., ranked seventh among the 40 largest U.S. cities, with 10 neighborhoods ranked a “walker’s paradise,” including Dupont Circle, Logan Circle and downtown.

acannarsa@baltimoreexaminer.com

Advertisement