My knee hurt but I kept running on it. You’d think I’d learn my lesson after getting 2 stress fractures while over-training for the marathon a few years ago, but no.
Now my knee’s very, very angry and hurts when I step up a curb.
So since Sunday, I’m down to walking. And Sunday was when I read ’bout Lara of One Sweet World’s goal — to run every street on Manhattan in 2007.
Which makes me want to walk every street in Santa Monica.
Nobody walks in LA, they say, and in many ways, this is true in that we don’t have a lot of walkable ‘hoods in LA. We have huge freeways, multi-car-lane roads, big parking garages, and sad, empty sidewalks in most parts of LA.
But a major reason I moved to Santa Monica’s cuz I can walk to places. I walk to Co-opportunity or Whole Foods for groceries. I walk to the 18th St. Coffee House. I walk to my dry cleaner and shoe repair shop. I walk to the farmers’ market and post office, except when I bike it.
Running’s awesome, but walking actually makes you more likely to pop into places and see what’s going on in your ‘hood. So while I’m not actually ready to commit to walking all of Santa Monica, I may’s well make the most of it while I have a bum knee –
Let the walking adventures begin! I’m starting with the north half of Santa Monica, pictured left –
Update, 5/16/07: Here’s Wilshire Blvd.
I hear you on walking, I havent had a car now for over a month and I don’t miss it at all living down here. I walk everywhere…it’s fantastic to finally live somewhere in LA that I feel comfortable using my feet or bike as transportation!
Comment by David — May 15, 2007 @ 11:47 am
great post! you’re inspiring me to a bit more walking of my own… your post reminded me of this guy and his wife who do these great epic walks - death valley, coast of california, every street in their hometown, etc: http://ladesai.home.att.net/
Comment by Jennifer — May 15, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
i’ve had the same problem too- so recently did a loop north along Palisades Park up to San Vicente, then walking on the green grass median of San Vicente- then re-consume all the calories burned at City Bakery at 26th (in the Brentwood Country Mart).
Comment by lag2 — May 16, 2007 @ 12:52 am
walking rocks.
meandering to the scenic tree streets with low traffic, even better.
though, make sure to pay attention when crossing the street, lot of west side motorists push the envelope for the term, ‘California rolling stop.’
Comment by ecoFriendly — May 16, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Hope your knee is feeling better! I’m glad you were able to find a little inspiration from my endeavor. As I run, I think it would be nice to be able to slow down and take in a little more; however, I do pop in/out of places occassionally. I’m just more of a runner than walker…and needed a new/different kind of goal, other than another marathon.
Good Luck on your adventures….
Comment by Lara — May 19, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Actually, there are some very walkable neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Check out this walkable streets page for more.
Comment by LA City Nerd — May 23, 2007 @ 6:32 am
Did you attend this event: http://www.watchtheroad.org/news_WalkabilityWorkshop.htm
The guy who hosted said event was working for the FHWA. I recommend calling LADOT and asking about it in order to get in touch with him.
Comment by LA Bus Girl — July 17, 2007 @ 11:45 am
He talked a lot about the engineering/planning aspects of making a neighborhood more walkable… adequate sidewalk space (road dieting), proper organization of sidewalk furniture (to provide a barrier), paving over driveways that are dangerous (or asking businesses to do so, making businesses more accessible by not having them sit in a giant sea of parking (or providing a pedestrian walk way from store front to side walk, etc.
There was a lot of information crammed into this (it is normally a two day presentation but it was given in one day)… and it was interesting to hear the engineers listening to the policy makers, because a lot of the people who engineer streets and stuff, don’t think about things in that way… yenno?
Comment by LA Bus Girl — July 17, 2007 @ 11:54 am
How very cool! I have long been a big advocate of walking whenevr you can. I’ve thought a lot lately about getting rid of my car all together and what that would do to my mobility in SoCal.
I am fortunate because I work from home and most of my client work is done via the internet or phone. I try to walk to my clients businesses whenevr that is feasible or take my bike. I get a lot of approving looks when I pull up on my bike, but usually it takes me about ten minutes to unfrazzle myself after a ride in traffic.
That makes walking a great (and safe) alternative for me.
I walk everywhere from the eastside of Culver City out to the oceanviews of Marina Del Rey and Playa Del Rey and even into Venice. I have yet to venture into Santa Monica on foot, but it sounds like a great place to do so!
Keep it up!
Comment by Tim in West LA — September 5, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone :) And for the resources and links! I was not at the Walkability Workshop — I hope they have another one!
Comment by Siel — September 6, 2007 @ 9:15 am
I lived in Santa Monica for 10 years and loved being in a “walking city.” I’m still living in a walking city on the east coast, but it’s not as pleasant without the abundant sunshine!
Comment by Jenny — March 12, 2008 @ 5:19 am