SAWANT: How walkable cities could save Americans' social lives
Column: Sincerely Rue
One of my favorite parts about living on campus is that, for the most part, I can walk wherever I need to go. In general, Rutgers has done a fine job ensuring each campus is comfortably walkable for its students.
I only wish the rest of the U.S. would also take note of its college campuses, as well as New York City, Boston and Washington D.C., which were named as some of the nation's most walkable cities in 2023. The ability to get around without depending on a car may seem trivial. But, in reality, urban planning that considers the benefits of a promenade or a bike ride around town also considers the importance of human connection.
This is because walkable cities allow easier access to "third places," a concept first introduced by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in the 80s. According to The Atlantic, third places are defined as "physical locations other than work or home where there's little to no financial barrier to entry and where conversation is the primary activity."
Oldenburg cites places such as French cafes, German beer gardens and English pubs as examples of third places where people from all different kinds of backgrounds come together for the sole purpose of socializing or being in the presence of other human beings. It is no surprise we can find more examples of successful, still-existing third places in European cities, which are known for their walkable cities and penchants for human connection.
In our immediate surroundings, we can cite libraries, cafes, gyms and parks as third places. Since New Brunswick is so walkable, it is easier for people to find things to do in these places because they are more accessible.
We see this in action when many people are out and about at once (especially when the weather is as beautiful as it was last week). It almost felt like walking around in a movie with the number of people lounging on picnic blankets in Voorhees Mall or on tables and lawn chairs at The Yard @ College Avenue, making casual conversation and enjoying the campus culture.
Over spring break, when I visited Europe, I saw another example of this. Because London and Paris are such walkable cities, it was quite common to see people around at all times, socializing on the streets at crosswalks, over little wicker tables in front of cafes or while waiting in lines for admission to museums and art galleries. Culture is born in these human interactions, which are often spontaneous and intuitive in nature.
When one thinks of Europe or a college town, what comes to mind? Perhaps crowds of people in public places, out all day, from morning till night, all engaged in different activities, yet somehow all operating together, aware of each other and embracing another stranger's presence as part of their own activities.
When we hop on an LX bus, we may glance or giggle at each other when it breaks down again on Route 18. When we are lounging in Voorhees Mall on the College Avenue campus after class, we may ask to join someone's game of frisbee.
In most of the U.S., though, most cities remain un-walkable, causing third places to die out. When bookstores, bars and parks are reachable by foot, it is feasible for most of the population to visit them. That is why so many of us students are in any of these places at any given time.
When highways and county roads separate third places, they are difficult to reach. Having to leave the house, fill up a car with gas and drive for 30 minutes just to be with other people is reason enough for many Americans to stay home.
Now, most Americans seem to operate in isolation for the sake of efficiency.
They opt for online shopping rather than visiting a mall. They drink at home instead of visiting bars and striking up purposeless, spontaneous conversations with someone they have never met. They take their car to the store rather than walk because it is quicker or simply because most places prioritize spaces for wheels rather than pedestrians.
There is no real social culture in many U.S. places now. Most of the culture is bound to phones and computers, underscored by social media and digital sharing.
Culture forged through human connection and building a sense of local history are entirely different things. Yet, the diminishing importance assigned to making walkable cities is threatening to snuff out whatever specks of such cultural identity are left. In order to grow this social culture to what it once was, we must seriously consider making America's cities pedestrian-friendly once again.
Rujuta Sawant is a Rutgers Business School junior majoring in business analytics and information technology and minoring in political science. Her column, "Sincerely Rue," runs on alternate Mondays.
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