If you’ve been singing the lyrics “I walk a lonely road” a lot lately, you’re not… alone (well, in a sense). Chattanooga roads are actually even lonelier than many, but we’ll get to that in a minute.
If national averages indicate anything, it’s that roads overall may have been more lonely over the past few years. According to a recent data report by Streetlight, annual average daily walking trips dropped 36% in the US between 2019 and 2022.
How does that national average shake out in the Chattanooga metro area, and where are the best spots to raise those national trend (and step count) numbers? Let’s take a look.
By the numbers
- -42% | Percent change in walking trips in Tennessee, -40% in Georgia
- -43% | Percent change in walking trips in Chattanooga, TN-GA
- 29 | Chattanooga’s most recent score out of 100 on Walk Score’s walkability meter
What does a percent change in walking trips mean? Say a metro area sees a -50% change in walking trips. This means, on average, walking trips declined by 50% in that area. (For the record, none of the top 100 metros in the study saw that much of a decline — the biggest dip was 49% in Akron, OH.)
Where to walk the walk
Wondering where you can get your steps in? Check out these pedestrian-friendly spots around town.
- Tennessee Riverwalk, access points vary | Walk the paved path that follows the southern banks of the Tennessee River while exploring nature, restaurants, and activities along the way.
- Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, 1 Walnut St. | Take a stroll along one of the country’s longest pedestrian walking bridges + check out the nearby shops and parks.
- Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, 1800 Polk St. | This Southside spot features 33 acres of parkland that showcase large, contemporary sculptures from all over the world.
