The American Podiatric Medical Association has ranked 100 American cities on “their walking conducive environments and habits.” Here’s the top 10:
#1 Portland, OR: Portland consistently ranked in the top 25 percent in each of the competition’s criteria. With cool summers and relatively mild winters, walkers in Portland can hit the streets and trails year round.
#2 Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado Springs scored extremely high in both the general physical fitness index and the percentage of adults that participate in sports.
#3 Madison, WI: Ranking fourth in miles of trails per square mile, Madison also has more residents that bike to work than any other city in the nation.
#4 Boise, ID: The largest city in the Gem State boasts a high percentage of adults that participate in athletics, and ranked fourth in the number of residents that walk for exercise.
#5 Las Vegas, NV: More than glitz and gambling, this desert oasis has a high number of households that are physically active and participate in sports.
#6 Austin, TX: Home to the main campus of the University of Texas and a vibrant downtown, Austin scored favorably because of its many parks and the number of residents that bike for exercise.
#7 Virginia Beach, VA: More than just a haven for beach goers, Virginia Beach reached the top ten due to a low crime rate, lots of parks and the number of residents that play golf.
#8 Anchorage, AK: Despite a chilly climate, Anchorage made the list because of its vast square mileage of parks and more dog owners than any other city in the U.S. Nearly 50 percent of Anchorage residents walk for exercise.
#9 Fremont, CA: Topping the list for the number of residents who walk for health, Fremont outscored many cities because of the number of residents that take public transportation to work.
#10 Raleigh, NC: With several parks to choose from, Raleigh residents have many places to walk.
Albuquerque is 17th. Here’s the list of all 100 (small PDF).