Week 10

I believe Malchik might say how Americans are less likely to walk around because of how some urban areas are built, there are more roadways than walkways. After all, a city’s social capital is heavily based on its infrastructure. If there are less sidewalks and more roads, humans become more disconnected from nature, which is why roads and cars are considered to be disadvantageous in terms of walking. Not only do they act as a barrier that keeps people from walking, they also make walking more dangerous. I think I agree with Malchik’s perspective on this matter, though it is relatively negative. Malchik believes that American value cars over walking and I agree. Though some may argue that it’s the car industry’s greediness that separates us from nature, I argue that it doesn’t matter because that industry was created by people. Similarly, people willingly choose the convenience of cars, and over time, driving became a skill that is much more valued over walking. Laker and Malchik both agree that infrastructure is a major threat to walking and Laker provides sensible ways to overcome this threat. He offers the ideas of pushing for better funding, using technology, and even building benches. (200)