On our short walk to my apartment, there were areas that we deemed to be acceptable in terms of physical appearance. For example, our walk along the stretch of Jackson Street that hugs the side of the University of Georgia's North Campus is well shaded with beautiful deciduous trees such as Red Oaks (Quercus rubra), Willow Oaks (Quercus phellos), and Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) trees. Benches are strategically placed in shade for pedestrian's comfort while waiting for a bus or to take a rest when tired from walking. This is an extremely warm place in the Spring and Summer seasons so catering to the comfortability of the citizens and visitors of Athens is important.
After crossing Broad Street towards downtown, however, the story is not quite the same. The walls of the buildings that buffer the sides of Jackson Street are sterile and tall. Though they do buffer the sun for moments throughout the day, there is no true tree shade for pedestrians. The sidewalks are stained and sprinkled with trash from the various bars and restaurants. This historic downtown area, though pretty, was dirty and unkept.
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Walkability Score Sheet
Every interstection that we came to, we gave it a specific score. It was based on whether it had crosswalks, street lights, barriers, etc. This determined if it was a comfortable and safe sidwalk. The maximum score that can be given to a site is 25.
Safety
Though our route had it's pros and cons, the overall experience was positive. There wasn't a segement of the walk that made us feel uncomfortable. Pedestrian walkways were at every intersection along with most having a signal. In addition, streetlights were placed along the sidewalks for increased pedestrian safety at night. Sidewalks had barriers and trees to separate the street from the sidewalk, creating a separation of pedestrian and vehicular use. For those who choose to bike to class, bike lanes are provided on Jackson Street until it meets with South Street. Lastly, at crosswalks and intersections, the sidewalk sloped downward to meet street grade for increased walkability. This helps those in wheelchairs and strollers by providing a smooth transition into the street.
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Safety
In conclusion, we believe our route is a fairly walkable space. With crosswalks, low speed limits, bike lanes, and more, this area of Athens is fairly safe. You still run the risk of getting hit by a car when crossing but we observed 100% of cars stopping for pedestrians. The only true downside to this route is the stench of downtown on a Fridy morning. Not the most plesant part of the walk but the view of North Campus makes it all worthwhile.