Ranking aside, Shanghai stumbles on walkability

It might be hard to believe, but Shanghai was recently named the third most pedestrian-friendly city in China. This distinction was conferred by the China program of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit environmental protection group based in the US, which placed Shanghai third behind Shenzhen and Hong Kong on the walkability index it released last month.

In total, 35 major Chinese cities were ranked according to the group's index, which assesses the following factors: road accident fatality rates, road foliage coverage, road density and government policies related to road management and construction.

Shanghai's position near the fore of this list is quite surprising. Many who actually live and work in Shanghai certainly don't see the city as a haven for walkers. In a recent online poll conducted on Sina Weibo concerning the NRDC's ranking, nearly half of those who participated indicated that they feel the city's air quality is too poor to walk outside for prolonged periods. Another 30 percent indicated that the persistent presence of mopeds and bicycles on the city's sidewalks make walking unsafe and unpleasant.

Foreign residents of Shanghai seem to hold the same concerns as locals. Discussing her first impressions of the city, Alina Kalintceva, an international student from Russia, told the Global Times that she was shocked by the presence of vehicles on the city's sidewalks.

"For me, it's very difficult to imagine cars and mopeds driving or people riding their bikes on the sidewalks," said Kalintceva. "(If) there is a car behind me, it could run over me."

Another international student, Nicholas Sanchez from the US, echoed these statements, saying that he is often annoyed and startled by the mopeds and scooters that fly past him on local sidewalks with little warning.

These observations will surely resonate with anyone who's spent any time at all walking around Shanghai. I believe that the NRDC's high ranking of Shanghai does not reflect conditions in the city. Indeed, the council's recent review of walking conditions heavily references official statistics, but was lacking in terms of on-site assessment. As is always the case, real problems are often not reflected in government reports and data.

Just because a city has relatively few road fatalities or a comparatively high road density rate, this doesn't necessarily guarantee a comfortable walking experience. And even if a city's government shows itself to be more active than others when it comes to championing walkability, this doesn't mean that law enforcement efforts on the ground will be forceful enough to curtail infractions that impinge on pedestrians.

Of course, Shanghai does boast a few tranquil and tree-lined streets - Wukang Road and Xinhua Road in the former French concession spring to mind - but such places are the exception, not the rule, when it comes to walking in Shanghai. This is particularly apparent when one moves further away from the city center. As one approaches the suburbs, the peaceful lanes and shaded boulevards are rapidly displaced by dingy exposed sidewalks and sprawling mega blocks built for the benefit of motorists.

People who call Shanghai home may take issue with its recent distinction, but their lives will surely be affected little by the NRDC's ranking. Tourists, on the other hand, may be disappointed if they show up looking for a pleasant walking holiday.