Eva Hopkins (288)

It’s important to put your best foot forward, but it can be just as important to put it in the right place. For the third time in a row, Philadelphia has taken the crown of “most walkable city” from USA Today. Declared to be “beloved for its cultural and historical attractions,” Philadelphia beats out cities such as Chicago (no. 7) and Washington, DC (no. 8). With such high praise from one of the most popular newspapers in the country, Philadelphia has to be the most walkable city ever, right? Well, some Central students prefer walking around in another city: New York.

Cecilia Naples (287) “prefer[s] walking in Manhattan” to Philadelphia because “there’s always an abundance of people.” Due to the density and popularity of New York, you rarely find yourself on a deserted street. Cecilia prefers this to Philly because here “there’s frequently strangers who cat-call or criticize.” 

Being in New York isn’t only safer, but also oftentimes nicer. Amelie Frost (288), who lived in New York, likes it there because “it’s pretty clean.” No one will deny the fact that Philadelphia isn’t the most well-kept city. In NYC, Amelie enjoys when you “pass a bunch of museums.” You’re never more than a few blocks away from a fun afternoon or a new style of architecture. 

Despite all this, Philadelphia can have its moments. Amelie noted that she appreciates the “nice historical places” Philadelphia has to offer. Walking around in Old City is not only fun but also an opportunity to learn new things about a city that’s been around since the Revolutionary War. Cecilia “love[s] how much greenery can be found [here].” They both enjoy walking in Philly, but maintain that other places might be more deserving of the number one spot. 

Wherever you believe is the best place to walk, one thing is for sure: walking is good for both physical and mental health, and as Amelie put it, “It’s just fun to walk around and see things.”