Walking the Ravenel Bridge In Charleston, South Carolina.

Since we are always promoting healthy life styles, I thought it would be insightful to share the demographics I have noticed from walking the new beautiful Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina. I have walked it well over 200 times since it was built and have made some interesting observations.

1. The age range of the walkers is 6 to 80 years old.
2. There are more women than men and lots of young white women pushing their kids in strollers.
3. There are more young people than older folk.
4. There are more white people than black folk walking the bridge and they usually have a partner.
5. There are more African American young women than African American young men.
6. It takes 40 minutes to walk one way that is 2.8 miles.
7. Round trip it takes 11,560 steps or 1 hour and 20 minutes.
8. Less than half of people who walk the bridge go round trip.
9. There are no restroom facilities on the bridge, no telephone and one water fountain at the base of the bridge on the Mount Pleasant side.
10. I have walked it at all times of the day but the best times are early morning or late afternoon.
11. It can be near freezing during the winter and above 100 degrees during a Charleston summer at the summit of the bridge.
12. Every time I walk the Bridge I see something at the summit that I did not notice before, reminding me that God’s creation is wonderful. Come see for yourself.

I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell closing the gap in health care.