# Other than London and NYC, any open-air pedways? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508 "2019-06-14T13:23:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/1 "2019-06-14T13:23:33Z")
So last time I was in London I visited the National Theatre area which is a great example of modernist architecture and also has elevated concrete patios which remind me of the elevated pedway at [SUNY Fredonia](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4509415,-79.338771,258m/data=!3m1!1e3) where I grew up. I also visited the Barbican in the City and, while not completely unfinished concrete, its pedway is more deliberate and extensive and makes me think “yep, this is what a city should be like”. And NYC has its High Line park built on a former elevated railway which I’ve never been to but definitely is on my must see list should I go to NYC again. Are there any other examples of extensive pedways that are open-air so you don’t feel like you’re walking through a tube? Also preferably solid and broad and modernist but those are not a 100% requirement. [This example at Universal Studios](https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4737994,-81.4643914,295m/data=!3m1!1e3) _almost_ counts, and makes me wonder if they originally wanted to make it more extensive, because while it only connects the entrance to the parking garage, had they extended it less than 100 feet it would have connected to the walkway to CityWalk and from there to the elevated part of CityWalk. But for me this does not quite have the feel for what I want since while it is nearly as extensive as the example at Fredonia, the aesthetics do not match. Had it fully connected then the length would make it count. ETA: open air also has some leeway as well since the Universal Studios and part of the Barbican have roofs, but the sides are definitely still open. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/2 "2019-06-14T14:01:46Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > So last time I was in London I visited the National Theatre area which is a great example of modernist architecture and also has elevated concrete patios which remind me of the elevated pedway at [SUNY Fredonia](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4509415,-79.338771,258m/data=!3m1!1e3) where I grew up. I also visited the Barbican in the City and, while not completely unfinished concrete, its pedway is more deliberate and extensive and makes me think “yep, this is what a city should be like”. > > And NYC has its High Line park built on a former elevated railway which I’ve never been to but definitely is on my must see list should I go to NYC again. > > Are there any other examples of extensive pedways that are open-air so you don’t feel like you’re walking through a tube? Also preferably solid and broad and modernist but those are not a 100% requirement. [This example at Universal Studios](https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4737994,-81.4643914,295m/data=!3m1!1e3) _almost_ counts, and makes me wonder if they originally wanted to make it more extensive, because while it only connects the entrance to the parking garage, had they extended it less than 100 feet it would have connected to the walkway to CityWalk and from there to the elevated part of CityWalk. But for me this does not quite have the feel for what I want since while it is nearly as extensive as the example at Fredonia, the aesthetics do not match. Had it fully connected then the length would make it count. > > ETA: open air also has some leeway as well since the Universal Studios and part of the Barbican have roofs, but the sides are definitely still open. I’m looking at the google like to SUNY Fredonia. Is the elevated pathway you are talking about the bit that goes from the library plaza to the Williams Center? I went to street view to get an idea of what it looked like, and it appears to me it is gone. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place, but I cannot find this elevated pathway. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/3 "2019-06-14T14:10:23Z")
That was part of it - looking at street view it does indeed look like it was gone. The last time I was there it was being removed but a few months ago I looked at street view and it was there so I assumed it was merely being repaired. The Google Maps view still has it - you can tell since there is a shadow. Just a little east of there is the Reed Library and amphitheater, which are also part of the walkway, the sections of which may (or may not!) still be there. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/4 "2019-06-14T14:14:48Z")
It has been removed: > **[Spine removal complete; major upgrade planned next year | Fredonia.edu](https://www.fredonia.edu/news/spine-removal-complete-major-upgrade-planned-next-year)** > > Whether they stood on it, or under it, Fredonia students and alumni needed just one look at the spine bridge to reminisce moments big or small. Over the years, while all those memories were being made, the concrete bridge slowly, and steadily,... I could see the shadows so I figured that was what you were referring to, but I couldn’t locate it in street view! 😃 I don’t know of anything that quite meets your criteria. Spokane, WA has the elevated skywalk system, but those are mostly enclosed (some have open sides but they are still covered). You can walk all over downtown in this system. Lots of good pictures in this article about them: > **[After years of decline, Spokane’s skywalks are getting a boost](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/jan/07/once-seen-as-a-bridge-to-the-future-spokanes-skywa/)** > > The city’s upper avenues once served as busy footpaths between bustling commercial centers. Today, two new skywalks are under construction at the former downtown Macy’s at a cost of about $800,000, and a third, iconic skywalk prepares for a... I was fascinated with them when I was young. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/5 "2019-06-14T14:30:15Z")
State University of NY at Plattsburgh has a system of them. [Here’s a couple](https://www.google.com/maps/place/State+University+of+New+York+at+Plattsburgh/@44.6941867,-73.4664919,133m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x202f915ff975e5cd!8m2!3d44.692543!4d-73.466962). [Street view.](https://www.google.com/maps/@44.6939324,-73.465714,3a,60y,319.32h,93.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sncDXghFyLLIMdencE5lGFA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/6 "2019-06-14T14:35:58Z")
Thanks, Chuck - those are pretty extensive! If I ever get near there I should check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/7 "2019-06-14T14:43:29Z")
[This park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaryadye_Park) in Moscow includes a floating bridge that’s kind of like the High Line and is extremely popular. And the [Wikipedia article on the High Line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line#Impact) lists other cities with similar rail-to trail conversions. There is one in Poughkeepsie, New York that is a walkway over the Hudson River converted from a railroad bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Bert\_Nobbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bert\_Nobbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bert_Nobbins)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/8 "2019-06-14T15:15:52Z")
Here’s one in Paris. A favorite place of ours is the linear park on an old railway viaduct: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coul%C3%A9e\_verte\_Ren%C3%A9-Dumont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coul%C3%A9e_verte_Ren%C3%A9-Dumont) It runs along the avenue Daumesnil. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/9 "2019-06-14T16:34:50Z")
London also has a couple of examples of a different sort of high line - extended dirt mounds covering large ground level sewer lines. The Greenway: [Ridgeway (London) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridgeway_(London)) The Ridgeway: [Ridgeway (London) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridgeway_(London)) Also, would city walls qualify as open air pedways? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/10 "2019-06-14T16:53:38Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > Also, would city walls qualify as open air pedways? If you can get off of them in multiple places and thus could serve as transportation, then yes. ---
**Author:** ![Bert\_Nobbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bert\_Nobbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bert_Nobbins)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/11 "2019-06-14T17:07:58Z")
The Parkland Walk in North London has much of its length on embankment: [https://www.parkland-walk.org.uk/](https://www.parkland-walk.org.uk/) It’s very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-than-london-and-nyc-any-open-air-pedways/835508/12 "2019-06-14T20:57:18Z")
Chicago has “The 606” which is pretty much patterned after New York’s High Line, and also built on an abandoned elevated railroad track. The name comes from the first three digits of the postal area code for the city.