WalkArlington

Winter Walking Tips

We all know that Arlington winters can coat our sidewalks with everything from sleet and ice to snow and whatever you call that nasty gray slush churned up by cars and plows. We also know that Arlington pedestrians need to get where they’re going regardless of the conditions.

So whether you’re walking for exercise or to reach your destination, here are a few winter walking tips to heed, courtesy of WalkArlington.

1. Be safe and be seen. Follow basic safety rules, like looking both ways before you cross a street, crossing at marked crosswalks, watching for traffic, paying attention to cyclists, and walking to the right on trails and paths. Assume drivers can’t see you and proceed with caution, especially when days are short and weather conditions unfavorable.
2. Share the way. Be mindful of cyclists, runners, and other trail users. Walk on the right, and listen for bells and audible warnings. Watch for icy spots!
3. Walk with friends or in places where there are other walkers, especially in the early morning and evening hours. Consider joining a walking group like WalkArlington Walkers on Meetup.com.
4. Suppress the cold-weather hibernation instinct by thinking “brisk” and “invigorating” instead of colder thoughts.
5. Cover your head and other parts to stay warm.  Dress in layers, and don’t forget the mittens or gloves and hat — you lose 35 percent of your body heat through your head!
6. Pay extra attention to your feet. Wear warm socks with room for toe wiggling. Lace up walking shoes with plenty of traction for those occasional icy patches.
7. Wear bright or reflective clothing and stay visible. With fewer daylight hours and cloudy conditions, it’s important to don a high-visibility outer layer.
8. Pick your path. Arlington is blessed with an extensive, all-season trail network, plus scores of walkable neighborhoods and urban villages waiting to be explored.  Check out WalkArlington’s neighborhood Walkabout routes for ideas.
9. Consider the conditionswhen planning your route. Walk where trees offer some shelter from the wind. In nasty weather, try a shopping mall, where you can walk — and window shop – without abandoning your walking regimen.
10. Start slowly and take it easy. Muscles warm up as you go. Adjust your pace for the weather conditions to decrease your chances of straining a muscle or taking a fall.

Don't forget that Arlington County now has a Snow Removal Ordinance requiring business and property owners to clear sidewalks of snow and ice within a designated time period to ensure safe passage for pedestrians. The County also has numerous helpful resources for pedestrians, including a snow removal plan, inclement weather closing updates on the Arlington County website and Arlington Virginia Network (AVN) cable television channels, and the Arlington Alert system.

Winter weather can impact all forms of commuting. If you’re walking to the ART bus during severe weather, you should know that bus stops that are in operation during severe weather conditions will have a blue snowflake decal (similar to the snowflake to the left) in the upper corner of the bus stop flag. Bus stops in service during severe conditions are only along the ART 41, 51, 75 and 77 routes. Not all bus stops along those routes will be in service.

The take-home message?  As long as you check the conditions, plan ahead, dress for the weather, and trust in the kindness of neighbors/strangers (with shovels), you can walk safely to your destinations and keep up your walking routine all winter long!  For more safety and comfort tips on walking in winter weather, also check out the Winter Walk Guide (PDF, 204 KB. Adobe Reader required.)