Tranquil. Beautiful. Bucolic.

These are all words that can describe a walk on a country road.  Another word is, “hazardous.”  When most people think of neighborhood barriers to walking, they most often think of the perils of the concrete jungle – unsafe or nonexistent sidewalks, no crosswalks or pedestrian right of ways, risk of getting mugged, poor lighting, and other urban challenges.

It is often assumed that it is much easier for people living in rural communities to find ways to be more physically active.  But rural communities deal with barriers of their own.  As the above photo attests, there is rarely a shoulder on the roads.  This problem is compounded in the winter in northern climates when snow banks occupy what little shoulder space there is.  Then you have the problem of oncoming traffic that is less frequent than what you would experience in suburban or urban settings, but is usually traveling at a very high speed (there are not a lot of speed traps in rural America).  Add to that undulating hills that can limit sight lines and fast-moving cars can be on top of you before you know it with little room for corrective action.

Another challenge for going for a rural walk around the block is that the “block” can be a multi-mile trek.  That can be fine for someone who is fit but wouldn’t be a good starting point for people who are simply trying to add more activity to their lives.  And it is quite likely that on a walk in the country, you will happen upon farm dogs who, rightly so, fiercely protect their territory.  It can be a scary – and potentially dangerous – encounter. 

A total lack of street lights means that walks in the country need to be completed during daylight hours.  That’s fine in the summer, but when the days shorten as winter approaches, it becomes a major limiting factor to keep up a walking routine for those living in the country. 

But, you say, “People in rural settings are more physically active in their daily work routine.”  That’s not necessarily so as only a few of our rural neighbors actually are farmers, and those who are, use modern machinery that produce high yields with little energy expenditure from the operator. 

So what’s the point of this blog?  People in all kinds of settings have challenges to becoming more physically active.  Check out this Stand Up & Eat article for ideas to assess and correct walkability issues in the setting in which you live. 

Also, share your suggestions for overcoming barriers to being physically active in rural, suburban, or urban settings in the comments section below.