Art by Mariah Mapa
Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
For college students, living on campus often means walking downtown, bar-hopping or finding a restaurant that’s open 24/7. In comparison to nearby cities, such as Santa Monica or Los Angeles, living in Malibu can feel like getting dropped in the middle of nowhere, especially for students without a reliable mode of transportation.
Popular European countries and American cities such as Denmark, the Netherlands, San Francisco and New York City tend to design their roads around bikes and pedestrians as opposed to car-centric architecture, according to Green City Times. This not only reduces health risks by encouraging walking as a part of daily routine and decreasing car crashes, but also reduces mental stress with a decrease in depressive symptoms, according to a study by the Malaysian Institute of Planners.
Walkable cities are beneficial for both students on campus and the local economy as a whole. Lancaster, Calif. spent $11.2 million in 2008 to recenter the city around businesses and pedestrians. The results yiel...