bostonzest

Tag: walkable city

  • Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

    Instead of thinking, “Time to walk the dog,” try turning it around by saying, “Time for my dog to take me outside.” Say it in a tone of appreciation, because being outside can be very good for both of you. 

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    Here are Leo (front) and Wolfgang (rear) taking their humans outside this past spring.

    Cameron Woo, co-founder and publisher of The Bark magazine, brought to my attention recently the importance of the time I spend outside with my dog. He wrote, “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 87% of their life indoors with another 6% spent in automobiles for a total of 93% habitating in enclosed spaces. That leaves only 7% of one’s entire life to spend outdoors. Translated to daily life, we average only about 100 minutes of our day outside”

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    Even with the cold and snow last winter, Poppy made sure we had some time outside each day. She likes the cold better than the heat and loved those high snowbanks.

    Living in one of the country’s most walkable cities (where 15% of us walk to work), Bostonians may do a bit better than average at spending time outdoors. But, Bostonians with dogs have the advantage of taking a few more trips a day to the streets and parks with their canine companions. 

    Where Do You Walk?

    Most days we walk the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That's our routine dog place. But, we also love to explore the city and discover other great dog neighborhoods. Where do you walk your dog? What places do you recommend that we explore? And, how much time do you spend outdoors each day?

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

    Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. And, we highly recommend a subscription to The Bark. It is one of the few print publication subscriptions we still receive.

       

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (Adapted from one of her City Paws newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

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  • Clearly, Pedestrians Are Not Top Priority in Boston

    Since we all walk in the city – no matter what our primary means of transportation – you might think that walkers would be a top priority for the Public Works efforts. Clearly we are not. 

    DSC_2849 - Version 22013-03-25-crosswalk-snowed-in-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's a snowbank-blocked crosswalk in Kenmore Square. This was taken on Monday. I think the city has had time to clear it since the last snowfall. But, it seems to have been there for a few storms. What's more, it is in front of a building that houses seniors.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, street sweepers were working hard a couple of blocks away to clear every speck of sand from the bike lanes surrounding the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That shows what the City of Boston deems important. 

    Here's some recommended reading for those, like me, who think there is something wrong with this picture. 

    From one of the city's smart bloggers, The Walking Bostonian, Getting Our Priorties Straight. 

    And, for your book list, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time


     

    When I read this book, I learned in detail how many of the bad decisions made in Boston's effort to make bikes a prioity hurt my pedestrian experience.

    I knew I was no longer comfortable walking on Mass Ave after the bike lanes were installed but didn't realize that any comprehensive urban planner should have known I would feel this way. Parked cars offer walkers a barrier and sense of security.

    I wonder how avoiding these sidewalks, now unprotected from high speed traffic, will impact Mass Ave businesses? What about other places that walkers will instictively avoid?

    Do you walk around the city? Do you think walking is the top priority for city planners? What are your pet peeves as a pedestrian? 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    How to Use Your Observational Skills in a Boston Real Estate Search
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    what it means if you don't j-walk.
    Lost Boston: Bicycle Club at 152 Newbury Street

  • Clearly, Pedestrians Are Not Top Priority in Boston

    Since we all walk in the city – no matter what our primary means of transportation – you might think that walkers would be a top priority for the Public Works efforts. Clearly we are not. 

    DSC_2849 - Version 22013-03-25-crosswalk-snowed-in-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's a snowbank-blocked crosswalk in Kenmore Square. This was taken on Monday. I think the city has had time to clear it since the last snowfall. But, it seems to have been there for a few storms. What's more, it is in front of a building that houses seniors.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, street sweepers were working hard a couple of blocks away to clear every speck of sand from the bike lanes surrounding the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That shows what the City of Boston deems important. 

    Here's some recommended reading for those, like me, who think there is something wrong with this picture. 

    From one of the city's smart bloggers, The Walking Bostonian, Getting Our Priorties Straight. 

    And, for your book list, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time


     

    When I read this book, I learned in detail how many of the bad decisions made in Boston's effort to make bikes a prioity hurt my pedestrian experience.

    I knew I was no longer comfortable walking on Mass Ave after the bike lanes were installed but didn't realize that any comprehensive urban planner should have known I would feel this way. Parked cars offer walkers a barrier and sense of security.

    I wonder how avoiding these sidewalks, now unprotected from high speed traffic, will impact Mass Ave businesses? What about other places that walkers will instictively avoid?

    Do you walk around the city? Do you think walking is the top priority for city planners? What are your pet peeves as a pedestrian? 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    How to Use Your Observational Skills in a Boston Real Estate Search
    BU Introduces New Cycling Safety Measures Along Comm. Ave
    what it means if you don't j-walk.
    Lost Boston: Bicycle Club at 152 Newbury Street

  • Clearly, Pedestrians Are Not Top Priority in Boston

    Since we all walk in the city – no matter what our primary means of transportation – you might think that walkers would be a top priority for the Public Works efforts. Clearly we are not. 

    DSC_2849 - Version 22013-03-25-crosswalk-snowed-in-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's a snowbank-blocked crosswalk in Kenmore Square. This was taken on Monday. I think the city has had time to clear it since the last snowfall. But, it seems to have been there for a few storms. What's more, it is in front of a building that houses seniors.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, street sweepers were working hard a couple of blocks away to clear every speck of sand from the bike lanes surrounding the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That shows what the City of Boston deems important. 

    Here's some recommended reading for those, like me, who think there is something wrong with this picture. 

    From one of the city's smart bloggers, The Walking Bostonian, Getting Our Priorties Straight. 

    And, for your book list, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time


     

    When I read this book, I learned in detail how many of the bad decisions made in Boston's effort to make bikes a prioity hurt my pedestrian experience.

    I knew I was no longer comfortable walking on Mass Ave after the bike lanes were installed but didn't realize that any comprehensive urban planner should have known I would feel this way. Parked cars offer walkers a barrier and sense of security.

    I wonder how avoiding these sidewalks, now unprotected from high speed traffic, will impact Mass Ave businesses? What about other places that walkers will instictively avoid?

    Do you walk around the city? Do you think walking is the top priority for city planners? What are your pet peeves as a pedestrian? 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    How to Use Your Observational Skills in a Boston Real Estate Search
    BU Introduces New Cycling Safety Measures Along Comm. Ave
    what it means if you don't j-walk.
    Lost Boston: Bicycle Club at 152 Newbury Street