Here’s Why You Should Move To A Walkable Community
At a time when transportation has become more convenient with the introduction of automobiles and several commuting schemes, activities as simple as walking — or even biking — have indeed become trivial. Now more than ever, many people have become too used to utilizing vehicles to transport them from one place to another, and making this behavior more rampant is the existence of communities that are, put simply, not walkable.
If you’re looking for a suitable place for you from the plethora of apartments in Berkeley, one thing you need to consider is its “walkability.” In this blog, we’re rounding up six essential reasons why.
It is generally safer than a non-walkable community. When making walkable communities, planners and experts turn special attention to creating one that is safe and convenient for pedestrians. For instance, sidewalks and streets should be well-lit at night to deter criminals from attacking those who walk during that time; or officials should impose driving speed limits to help minimize road accidents. Such community planning uses clever design to make the final output generally safer than its non-walkable counterpart.
It’s good for your health. Walking is one of the most basic forms of exercise. Doing this briskly particularly gives perks like lowering your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even diabetes. Several walkable communities also feature going-green campaigns, making cities and neighborhoods a place where there are trees that can help produce fresh air. Studies have also found out that living in such a community is also good for one’s mental health — e.g. Lowering risk of Alzheimer’s, doing well in cognitive tests.
It boosts your community’s economy. If you live in one of the apartments in Berkeley situated in a walkable community, you’d probably notice how establishments are designed to be efficiently and conveniently connected. This concept encourages residents to frequent more commercials and business areas, hence giving the local economy a significant boost.
It can save you a significant amount of transportation expenses. As far as transportation costs are involved, you’d be glad to have this item reduced when you choose to reside in a walkable community. Just like what’s mentioned in previous bullets, communities like this are engineered to promote walking rather than using cars or public transportation. This will save you a significant amount of money which you can use for more important expenses and purchases.
It helps preserve the environment. With the minimal use of vehicles, walkable communities benefit not only the residents’ health but also the environment. Air pollution is reduced and the use of fossil fuels is decreased. This makes for a living environment that is free of several stressors and is less harmful to Mother Nature.
It fosters a strong sense of belongingness. When you’re residing in one of the apartments in Berkeley whose community was designed to be walkable, you’ll more likely to socially interact with your neighbors. This behavior is important in building a community with a strong sense of belongingness, which in turn is helpful for your mental and emotional health and the overall productivity of your local economy.