Looks like New Yorkers will have to take that strut down a notch.
Despite its subway-hopping, block-hustling, pedestrian-proud population, the Big Apple couldn’t even crack the top 10 in a new ranking of the world’s most walkable cities — landing instead at a listless 34th place.
The global list, compiled by price comparison site Compare the Market, considered everything from walking trails and public transport to rainfall and how close residents live to services.
Spoiler alert: Europe ran laps around the competition.
Take a look at the cities that actually walk the walk:
1. Munich, Germany
A whopping 86% of locals live within a mile of designated car-free zones. With nearly a million miles of bike trails in the urban area, it’s no wonder this Bavarian beauty walked away with the top spot.
2. Milan, Italy
The fashion capital struts its stuff with sleek sidewalks, strong public transport and easy access to cafés, shops and sights — all without breaking a heel.
3. Warsaw, Poland
This under-the-radar gem marries old-world charm with modern mobility, offering safe streets, top transport and enough walking routes to keep locals light on their feet.
4. Helsinki, Finland
Freezing temps don’t stop Finns from getting their steps in, thanks to top-tier safety, smart city design and plenty of paths that make it a walker’s wonderland.
5. Paris, France
The City of Love (and Light) knows how to treat its pedestrians — with wide boulevards, charming car-free zones and transit so good, your feet might get jealous.
How the winners were chosen
Sydney, Melbourne, and even Rio de Janeiro outranked Gotham in walkability — though the home of “Hey, I’m walking here!” did manage to earn the top US slot. San Francisco and Boston came in right behind.
Compare the Market evaluated factors like safety scores, bike trail distance, public transport access, average rainfall, and how many people live near desirable amenities.
Munich blew the competition away thanks to its sprawling car-free zones and cyclist-friendly layout.
Meanwhile, the city that never sleeps — long touted as a pedestrian paradise where nearly half of adults don’t even have a driver’s license — stumbled in the rankings despite its round-the-clock public transit and famously walkable grid.
Earlier this year, a separate report gave NYC some major fitness cred.
The research by WalletHub ranked Gotham to be the second-best U.S. city for an active lifestyle, right behind Honolulu, thanks to its “walkability,” gyms, parks, and hiking spots.
Read the full article here
