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Americans should learn to love walking everyday, amirite?
by Anonymous1 week ago
This is true to an extent, but at least in some places, I think people rely too heavily on the "lack of infrastructure" argument as an excuse when they actually just don't want to walk, bike, or take public transit to their destination. I live in an inland-western US city (not west coast), and I almost never need to drive to get to a destination within the city limits. I can walk or ride my bike on one of our many thru-town bike/pedestrian trails, or I can catch a bus that runs at least every 30 minutes. Despite all that, my coworkers (who also all live within easy walking/biking/bus distance from our office) still look at me like I'm crazy when I mention that I don't drive to work.
by Anonymous1 week ago
When my friend first visited the US in Alabama ,they walked 12 minutes to the nearest Hooters to check it out and the Americans they talked with were either baffled or laughed at them for walking 1 km (0,6 miles). And this seems quite widespread all over the US. Building cities for cars instead of the people does that to a country.
by Money-Display1 week ago
But for practical walking? I can't get to the grocery store without crossing a busy four lane road. Most walking isn't practical or safe. You're definitely not imagining things, because this is by design. And the irony of the "what about disabled people" argument is that it completely undermines those whose disabilities prevent them from operating an automobile. People with epilepsy can't drive a car, people with visual impairments can't drive a car, people with specific physical impairments can't drive a car, but they still retain the abilities to walk and/or use a bike, or ride transit. But when these options are either unsafe or nonexistent they have no other options for traveling than by driving a car, assuming they don't have anybody else to drive for them. And then we wonder why there are so many "idiots" on the road, so many accidents, and 42,000+ car-related deaths annually in the US alone.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Same, my neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks, I often find broken glass, and dogs are often loose in the area. Would love to live near my workplace in the city but the rent is ridiculous.
by GlitteringBed89291 week ago
That or it's a dangerous area. I'm not gonna walk down this sketchy as hell road alone.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I did this throughout college, even after I got a car, and purposely got a job near my college so I could keep riding the bus. But then they canceled the routes I used during pandemic and they still haven't returned. Someday I will return to my beloved bus.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Or be like my agoraphobic mother, walking on a treadmill while binging TV shows lol. Two birds.
by Anonymous1 week ago
The closest thing to my house is like 7 miles away. I'm not walking to that and then walking back lololol
by Anonymous1 week ago
That wouldn't be 4000 steps for me. Do you park your car like a mile from your car?
by Anonymous1 week ago
The average American walks 3-4,000 steps, which means many Americans walk less than that and many walk more than that.
by roobdestini1 week ago
That seems super low. Walking to my car or mailbox is like 40 steps total. If I wear it just around the house I'm lucky to get 2000 steps if I don't make an effort.
by Anonymous1 week ago
If you say "americans do [thing]" any sensible person would understand that to not imply "every single american does [thing]", though. Generalizations aren´t used that way colloquially.
by Anonymous1 week ago
That´s why we should teach kids statistics in school alongside related jargon.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Came to confirm. Generalizations sometimes are just statistically accurate 🤷♀️
by Anonymous1 week ago
absolutes are never good That's an absolute! 😁
by Carmel741 week ago
lol I walk miles a day at work 5 days a week and i have a common ass job. no way in hell is the average 4000
by Equivalent-Market7381 week ago
Do you track your steps? Because it actually is. I've tracked my steps for like 20 years back with the pedometer's you could get for $10 and clip on your pants. An average lazy day is 3000-4000 steps, and if you look at the health of average Americans, it makes complete sense. ETA if you walk "miles" a day at your job, it's not a common ass job. I have a computer job and pretty much sit at the desk for 8 hours.
by Osbornecummings1 week ago
i wondering if the culture shock is more about how americans don't walk for there commute or in there local area but prefer to drive to a nice walking spot?
by Salt_Outside_66501 week ago
Most peoples jobs here are too far from where they live to reasonably walk. It's more practical to drive. Public transport is hit and miss depending on the area
by No-Echo-53321 week ago
If we had proper sidewalks in america instead of a small section right next to 40mph traffic that's barely wide enough for two people and places we could actually walk to then more people would be walking.
by Bartellleonie1 week ago
right off the bat with a generalization Is it an unfair one, though? It´s undeniable that the lifestyle of most western people gets more and more sedentary and people rely more and more on convenience. And you see so many more fat people nowadays than just 10 years ago.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Curious, do you not consider the Bay Area northern CA?
by AffectionateSuit1 week ago
I was walking at an arboretum today and there were no parking spots when I left. It's literally just a walking path full of Americans
by Anonymous1 week ago
He's right lol walking lacking movement in general amongst other things is why we are one of the most obese/sedentary developed countries in the world.
by daughertymarcia1 week ago
I live at the beach in Southern California and I walk 5 miles a day. Most people I know walk on the strand for miles. I don't understand OP's generalization either.
by Anonymous1 week ago
?? What part of the country are you in?? This is not an issue in all parts of America. Where I am people walk places all the time, it's just that there are some places you cannot safely access on foot.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Maybe some of those people who can't walk what you think is a manageable distance have invisible disabilities. Or maybe they just don't want to do it in the heat before an important interview. Or maybe they recently sprained their ankle and are trying to rest it. Or maybe a whole bunch of other reasons. It's easy for you to judge when you don't know their situation.
by No-Measurement1 week ago
That's what I was thinking. I have an invisible disability and also asthma. Even just a mile is a lot for me. It's not worth it to be in pain when I get the place I'm going just to save the $10 Uber or whatever.
by ProfessionalKing1 week ago
Broke my toe and tore some ligaments a month ago. Let's just say that it's been fun dealing with Florida snowbirds now that I have my boot off but still need to sit down somewhere one of them wants to sit.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Dude says he's from America but doesn't take into account weather, rural or city, and health issues..
by zoilaschinner1 week ago
I lucky have the option between parks or hiking trails but either way I have to drive to them. I live in a rural area and don't want to be walking next to people going 55mph
by zoilaschinner1 week ago
90% of them are just fat and lazy lmao
by eschimmel1 week ago
The amount of people that actually have invisible disabilities is painfully small and doesn't really align with the data on how little the average American walks per day
by Anonymous1 week ago
It's not so rare that those people lack consideration and respect
by No-Measurement1 week ago
Yeah dude, sure! All of Op's clients all had invisible disabilities for the past couple of years. Totally plausible
by Anonymous1 week ago
Invisible disabilities, mental disorders, distrust of area, walking in heels, has children that can't walk that far, has to poop and has to clench their legs to keep it in… there's a lot of scenarios.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I'm fortunate enough to have a couple nice parks near me, but some of the places I've lived have been terrible to walk in. No sidewalks, idiot drivers. There wasn't much I could do living there.
by Mozelle331 week ago
Americans need walkable neighborhoods first...
by No_Independent_93961 week ago
We have them.
by Usual-Tax-39101 week ago
Depends on where you live. A lot of places are not pedestrian friendly, or are not safe like where I live. We have a lot of mental health issues here, combined with drugs, so you see A LOT of crazies at all times of day.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Aren't those people the reason you have a "job"?
by Anonymous1 week ago
How is driving Uber not a job?
by Hot-Professor8071 week ago
I'm an American and I have always walked. I have never lived in a walkable city, I just do it for the enjoyment.
by Flimsy-Gap-46191 week ago
How about people who are like "can you pull up" so they don't have to walk an extra 5 feet.
by Hot-Professor8071 week ago
I'll be honest. I couldn't make 10k steps a day without jogging and needing to walk my dog.
by Anonymous1 week ago
As an european 20 min walk is fine, but longer than that I'd take the car. America has this problem that it's really really big and cities are not meant for pedastrians really. They are build for cars. So often times it's just pointless walking a huge distance. It's not that I hate walks, I can walk for hours, If I'm going for a walk. But if I have to do something/get somewhere I don't have that much time to waste and just don't wanna get tired when I get there.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I walk and run all the time.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Bored with plain just walking, trying adding Disc Golf in the mix.
by Admirable-Science-201 week ago
1000% agree. And we need more pedestrian friendly places
by Anonymous1 week ago
It's called lazy
by Dramatic-Dog1 week ago
This is the correct answer
by Anonymous1 week ago
It's hard when you're living in downtown Houston where everyone drives
by Anonymous1 week ago
this is why i play Pokemon Go as an adult. it get me walking around my tiny town, even if there's nowhere to actually go. simulation in the real world.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Well when the country is made for cars, not for people, walking gets dangerous and time consuming
by umckenzie1 week ago
I take walks at least once or twice a day. This is just stereotyping.
by Internal_Breath_70891 week ago
People that have difficulty walking exist
by Anonymous1 week ago
Some people have hidden disabilities. A friend of mine had a heart condition that ultimately claimed her life, and she would take an Uber or cab for short distances, if they didn't blow her off. I'm sure many people would love to walk or bike, but few communities have or can afford the infrastructure to support that.
by botsfordeloisa1 week ago
Wholeheartedly agree. I'm an American, and I walk every single day for at least 40 minutes. However, I'm very lucky to live in an area where that's possible. A lot of places in America aren't very walking friendly.
by Anonymous1 week ago
It'd be nice if there were more walkable areas where I live. There aren't even sidewalks in my apartment complex
by Anonymous1 week ago
I'm sure many would like to walk, but esp in certain cities, they'd rather not have to deal with crazy people on the street and take a ride instead. That's also why many parents drive their kids or make them take a school bus instead of the kid walking on their own to school. The walking infrastructure is horrible too...
by Nervous_Guitar_63281 week ago
I'm American and I average 14k steps a day. Most of the people I know average 8-10k steps a day, though I acknowledge I'm biased in that my connections are similar to me. Obviously you're connecting with a specific sect of the population as an Uber driver, and obviously people that request rides often are more likely to be less inclined to walk places. I don't think you should judge the people of an entire country based on your specific, biased sample of the population you interact with
by Anonymous1 week ago
333 million people make up "Americans" Lots of us enjoy walking, myself included.
by CulturalTrifle1 week ago
My husband and I do a ton of walking. During our days off together, we easily go over 10 miles on foot.
by beverlymurray1 week ago
I think your perception may be biased based off the fact you drive Uber…….of course you don't encounter many walkers lmao
by Soggy_Assumption1 week ago
Try walking when it's gusting 20-40mph winds and -30 to -40 temps with the windchill in the winter months in the upper midwest/Great Lakes area
by Anonymous1 week ago
Who even has the time to walk 5 miles a day? Presumably always in the same direction, and surely just between 2 points.
by RiseAmbitious1 week ago
Yeah sure I'll just walk the 38 miles to where I work. That'll be easy.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Totally missing the point lol
by Anonymous1 week ago
The Greeks believed in walking while discussing philosophy. Walking is simple and good
by Anonymous1 week ago
I get that it's a generalization, but it's hard to argue against it. Obviously, some folks exercise different ways, but I've met so many people who can't fathom the idea of walking somewhere when you could drive. I think it should be the opposite - why drive somewhere if you can walk? I went 20 minutes down the street to get some coffee, and ran into my uncle there. He asked where my car was. I said it was at home, because it was. He asked "why?" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I think it's a very common attitude.
by Anonymous1 week ago
People should learn not to make generalizations based off of their anecdotal evidence
by schoenjordane1 week ago
I walk everyday, at least 40 minutes. Don't lump people together.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I'm on my feet for 10-12 hours a day, and average 7-10 miles in that time. The last thing I want to do is walk for the fun of it.
by No_Orange1 week ago
There are no non hostile areas, the media tells me so /s
by Anonymous1 week ago
WHOA, RACIST MUCH?
by Muted_Mongoose1 week ago
You're completing about the people who make you money? I was recently in DC with my teenage grandkids. We were going to the National Zoo. I parked about 1/2 mile away. The walk there was easy. Downhill most of the way. Getting back by walking wasn't going to happen. I have a lot of hardware in one of my feet. I was hurting pretty bad after walking around the zoo for hours. You bet your ass I got an Uber.
by Mysterious_Syrup_2011 week ago
why are you complaining ? it's your job to drive people around regardless of distance
by Bartelldoyle1 week ago
I'm American and I walk a lot because I live on a college campus, but the majority of places to live in the US require you drive. There are very few walkable cities and the walkable areas are expensive as all Hell.
by Bennie821 week ago
I love walking and never take Ubers
by Anonymous1 week ago
I like to walk, I go outside almost every day and walk a mile. The issue is, we don't have safe sidewalks everywhere. Hell, even in my progressive city, we have bike lanes but still NO sidewalks, which I think should come first.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I love walking, just most places I want to go to are very far away by foot.
by Gmedhurst1 week ago
I try to walk a few miles everyday. Full disclosure, I WFH and no one monitors me or cares if I do my hours at random times. For most people, finding an hour to walk when it's light out could be difficult. My situation is a luxury that affords me the ability to do this.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I wish we could walk everywhere. Communities just aren't built that way. I would totally take advantage of it if they were.
by BothShelter1 week ago
I love walking. My main issue is finding the time to do so. Most days are filled with productive things from 6AM to 11PM.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I have lived in a "mid sized" American city for 10-15 years now. So many of my friends here are shocked that I don't want, or need a car. I love being able to walk less than a mile away to almost everything I need. It's fun to decompress, and play some tunes while I enjoy my neighborhood. I can almost guarantee some of my friends have spent at least $100K more on transportation than I have over the past decade.
by OkInitiative1 week ago
Some places suck to walk but yeah, walking is good
by Anonymous1 week ago
Walking is a great way to clear your head along with being good exercise and can be nice to walk and talk with your friends granted you aren't going at a snails pace
by Anonymous1 week ago
That's just blatantly wrong
by Mysterious_Car1 week ago
As an Uber driver why do you care if they use the service you make money from instead of walking?
by Anonymous1 week ago
Fun Fact. A lot of Americans DO walk every day.
by aglae071 week ago
And what about the people who can't manage that without excruciating pain, if they can walk at all? Not everyone who orders that short Uber is being lazy-sometimes, it's because they're disabled and can barely get out the door in the morning, or something along those lines. I would know-I have hypotonia, gravitational insecurity, and a whole host of other issues that make extended periods of walking borderline torture. Add in autism that leads me to just completely hyperfocus on getting into the store and getting some meat (AKA being completely oblivious to ongoing traffic) without a service dog to tell me otherwise, and you have a shining example of "I'm getting this Uber because I actually need it for my safety and health". And just because you perceive an area as safe because there's little to no street crime and/or there are a lot of sidewalks doesn't mean it actually is. I live in an area just like that, and even if I wasn't disabled to high hell, I wouldn't risk it. If someone lost control of even a tiny ass smartcar, I am royally screwed. People can and do regularly ignore traffic signals. Quite frankly, OP, this isn't just an unpopular opinion, it's an ignorant and ableist one. Maybe instead of presuming every short Uber ride you take is someone being lazy, try to be a bit kinder and more open-minded. It could be someone with an invisible disability, or multiple disabilities. Or any other number of perfectly valid reasons.
by Alang1 week ago
A problem in some areas there are no sidewalks
by Anonymous1 week ago
I've definitely observed this too. Most places I've lived it's not really possible to walk very many useful places. But some people are ridiculous about it like the neighbors that will get in their car and drive 3 houses down the street to my parents house (they're fit and very into martial arts so it's not like they need to drive to get a wheelchair there). It has to take more time than just walking. And when I have been in a position where I rode in with a group and was keeping walking home about a mile as a possible way home if I wanted to stay longer than the group people act like it's a death march through the desert. Even people who know I'm pretty fit and active.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Ummm, if you're from America then you should realize that not everyone has that option. I'd love to walk everywhere but sadly I live in the middle of no where so I can't just walk all the way to my nearest city.
by Charming_Let1 week ago
Bro it's not that we don't want to it's that we CAN'T
by Anonymous1 week ago
You are assuming way too much about every single city in the US when you've lived in a minuscule fraction of it.
by Technical_Agency_1931 week ago
lol that's not true. i grew up on long island ny and took frequent trips to nyc with my family as a kid and i love walking. to this day i go for walks very frequently in the summer and winter in the woods just to explore and even just to walk to certain places.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I'm actually pretty lucky that my apartment is right next to the rail, and my job is close to one as well. I walk maybe like 30 minutes a day if I'm returning from work. It kinda makes me feel like I'm in an adventure and it's somewhat nice seeing people just be people. I have noticed my knee is kinda hurting during the last bit of the walk, makes me wonder if it's cause the shoes I'm wearing are completely flat
by quinton301 week ago
No
by Anonymous1 week ago
Cities aren't walkable
by Fun_Tension1 week ago
I will take "Generalization of 300 million people" for 200 Alex
by Material_Insect1 week ago
… lol no. All Americans are not the same. I walk all the time.
by Hodkiewiczmaria1 week ago
Invest in deodorant.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I do wear deodorant
by Anonymous1 week ago
Good for you.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I love walking in cities that are built for walking. The issue is that many of the cities in America aren't built for walking. Many places don't even have sidewalks.
by Either_Taste1 week ago
I'm Canadian. Last weekend we just hopped over to Buffalo for a bit of shopping. The amount of morbidly obese people I saw was staggering. I don't think I'd see as many as I saw in 24hrs in six months at home. I couldn't believe the number. 😔
by Anonymous1 week ago
Diets don't work and they end up causing weight gain in the long run. Americans are always on a diet, so they eventually become obese.
by Anonymous1 week ago
Because obviously you have polled every American.
by Anonymous1 week ago
OP has decided that since he has seen a lot of people in cars they obviously hate walking with a passion
by Amiraratke1 week ago
😂😂
by Anonymous1 week ago
Doesn't US have catastrophicaly bad walking infrastructure and public transport? Might not have much choice?
by Anonymous1 week ago
I love walking but I live in Chicago so sometimes ubering is the best move for safety reasons
by moorecruz1 week ago
I didn't buy a car to walk.
by Global-Chipmunk1 week ago
A lot of Americans walk often. Just because we have efficient roads to get around easier doesnt mean people don't walk. They walk very often mostly. Let's not generalize so uneducatedly..
by Delphia021 week ago
Yes, but remember - disabilities - safety - ocd/anxiety You never know.
by Anonymous1 week ago
No, the reason is they eat way less than us and eat healthier food. Diet is 90% of it. Exercise the other 10%
by Usual-Tax-39101 week ago
When I walk on the side walk I get passed by people driving Teslas, Lexus, etc. All kinds of luxury cars. Walking makes me feel like they judge me as a low life that are not among their ranks.
by Particular-Site-74201 week ago
It annoys me to pieces when someone complains about a parking situation that requires them to walk more than 15 feet to their destination. Not all places are ped friendly, like at ALL, but be grateful for the spaces that are! And be grateful you have legs that can take you wherever you want to go.
by Anonymous1 week ago
I don't have those
by Anonymous1 week ago
I'm 35 and don't know how to ride a bike.
by ActuaryLegitimate1 week ago
I'm not generalizing Americans don't like to walk Looks like it to me.
by Anonymous1 week ago
What if I don't like walking. Are you going to arrest me
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