High-ranking for LV walking draws criticism

Heather Rawlyk

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 | 9:47 a.m.

Las Vegas ranked 27th among the 125 best cities for walking, according to the second annual "Walking City Competition" study, conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association and sponsored by Prevention Magazine.

But when people at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Transportation Research Center heard about Las Vegas' 27th-place ranking, the entire room started laughing, according to Maggie Saunders, manager of the pedestrian and bicycle safety program at UNLV.

"Las Vegas is not a great walking town, no way," Saunders said. "First of all, we have one of the biggest pedestrian fatality problems of any city. We average 850 pedestrian crashes per year that result in trauma injuries."

The group examined the nation's most populated cities for "walker-friendly" characteristics, including how many people walk to work each day, safe air quality, the number of parks, how many podiatrists are available and how many health clubs and sports stores there are to serve walkers.

The population density of each city, the number of serious crimes known to police and the number of pedestrian deaths each year were also included in the 20 criteria.

Las Vegas did very well in the number of exercise sessions per month, ranking in the 9th percentile, survey consultant Dr. Allan Fisher Jr. said. Las Vegas did even better in the category of walking minutes per session, ranking in the 4th percentile.

"It seems when people walk in Las Vegas, they walk a lot," Fisher said.

The city ranked low, however, in the categories of urban sprawl (73rd percentile) and museum attendance (90th percentile).

Las Vegas ranked dead last among the 125 cities in the category of population density.

"You've got to start building some skyscrapers there in Vegas," Fisher said. "But you guys are doing all right. You're up there and knocking on the door."

Saunders said Las Vegas may look like a good walking town because of the Strip, but that is deceiving.

"The Strip has nice walking areas, but you go outside that, behind that, it's very dangerous for pedestrians," she said.

Las Vegas has skinny sidewalks and large, six-lane streets, not constructed to accommodate pedestrians, Saunders said.

"This town is built for cars," she said. "Not pedestrians.

"Motorists infringe on pedestrian rights here. Crosswalks are a mile apart from one another and it's hard in 112-degree heat to walk half a mile back, (rather) than to just cross where you are.

"Plus, the streets are wide, there are multiple lanes and motorists drive at high speeds they are comfortable with," she said.

Saunders did say she was not surprised that Las Vegas did well in the category of walking minutes per session.

"When people walk here, they walk a lot," she said. "Especially in lower income neighborhoods, where walking is means of transportation to work. There is a lot of walking on the Strip and a lot of shops to walk to from your home."

Fisher said he is not concerned whether or not the survey is a crowd-pleaser.

"We're just trying to look at the good things and promote walking," he said. "The government and health agencies busily pick on people for obesity and lack of exercise. We're just saying, 'Hey, you have a nice city to walk in, enjoy it.'

"We're going to step on some toes. Let no good deed go unpunished."