By Kenneth Helphand
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I walked to elementary school on sidewalks, a daily trek from 93rd street to PS 185 on 86th street. It was the beginning of what became a life-long habit of exploration and curiosity by varying my route passing through different blocks of the city’s checkerboard street layout. The sidewalks around our apartment building were also our playground. We played sidewalk games, I learned to ride a bike on the sidewalk, drew with chalk and recited the superstitious ditties associated with cracks in the sidewalk.
Most of us would be surprised to know that In Eugene, alone, there are 772 miles of sidewalks (and 538 miles of streets)! The Eugene Parks Foundation is dedicated to improving our trails and, especially, to making connections between existing trails in order to complete a comprehensive system linking together the city’s open spaces. But a complete pedestrian system, a system for walking, already exists, that can be thought of as our urban trail network, the city’s sidewalks. For a hike there is often a plan, including such things as, boots, a backpack, a snack, and, of course, a route. Hikes are on trails whereas most walks are on sidewalks. A walk can be anywhere, anytime and any length such as, to the corner, around the block, or to a friend’s house. Sidewalks are everywhere, the street to one side, building and open spaces to the other. In addition, Eugene is the rare city that has gone out of its way to accommodate the blind and people using wheelchairs with 6982 sidewalk access ramps. This pedestrian system is right at your doorstep.
When we moved to Eugene a half century ago I drew a mile circle around campus so I could walk to the UO where I worked. My daily back and forth walks were never boring. I often altered my route, taking different streets, going through the campus or through Pioneer Cemetery. I monitored homes being remodeled, seasonal changes, what was in the little libraries, and cats who always seem to know exactly where the property line was. While walks may be relaxing, they are also time to think. Working on an idea, I often stopped to write down thoughts. I learned that I had joined a venerable tradition. Thoreau’s philosophy was formed on his walks as he described in his classic essay, “Walking”. William Wordsworth’s poetry was inspired by his daily walks in the Lake District, often accompanied by his sister Dorothy.
My wife and I take daily walks. It is a time to be together, without distractions, a chance to talk, reflect, make plans, and decide which coffee shop will be our destination. My phone monitors the distance, but I now intuitively know the distances. Who do we see walking? Joggers, of course, it is Eugene, but mostly it is folks walking their dogs who clearly know their route instinctively. Depending on the time of day there are also baby carriages and kids walking to and from school. Even so, I wish more folks walked. Of course, walking is good for one’s health, but it is also good for the community. An unanticipated benefit of Covid was that when we were unable to travel, people walked. and keeping a safe distance, people stopped to socialize. Think about your own walks. Too often we jump into the car for a short trip. Few of us have favorite rides to the supermarket, but we all have a favorite walk.
In her book Wanderlust: A History of Walking, Rebecca Solnit says, “Walkers are practitioners of the city for the city is made to be walked.” Eugene has a walk ability index of 77 % which means most errands can be accomplished on foot, but are they? We need to pay equal attention to our urban trails, the sidewalks, as we do to our wooded trail system. These humble sidewalks also require our attention. They should be safely maintained, improved where necessary, and recognized for the essential role the play in our community, for they literally tie us all together.
Kenneth Helphand
Philip H. Knight Professor of Landscape Architecture Emeritus
University of Oregon