Out here in the suburbs, it’s hard to take care of daily chores without a car, but there are actually neighborhoods in the region where walking is not only pleasurable, but practical.
Here in Delaware County, you’ll find Swarthmore Borough to be one of those walkable communities that also has access to good transit service, writes Sandy Smith for Philadelphia Magazine.
Much of Swarthmore is, of course, centered around Swarthmore College, the famed liberal arts college founded by Quakers in 1864.
These days, though, most of the campus is separated from the center of town by a regional rail train station, built when the trains reached the borough in the 1880s. Today, it’s the SEPTA Elwyn/Wawa line.
Other public transit includes bus Route 109, which passes through town as it travels between Chester, Widener University, and the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby.
Most residents, though, can meet their daily needs on foot. For groceries, there’s the Swarthmore Co-op. A growing list of restaurants, including the Inn at Swarthmore, provide other dining options.
The walking view in Swarthmore features Victorian, Shingle style and Colonial homes on tree-lined streets.
Find out more about the benefits of walking in Swarthmore in Philadelphia Magazine.
