what does "walkability" mean to you? (in NOVA-DC region) (Arlington: apartment complex, home)

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

If by "walkable" you mean a trendy area with storefronts, say so. If by "walkable" you mean the sidewalks are good and you can walk to a shopping plaza, say so.

I do not mean a trendy area, a hipster area, a yuppie area, a coffee shop area or anything like that. I DO mean an area that is ATTRACTIVE to walk as well as safe, and the presence of storefronts is ONE aspect of that, though hardly the only one or most important. I'm not sure why when you show a contrast to your view of walking, you always insert words like hipster or trendy.

The street where I grew up in Brooklyn was the furthest thing from hipster or trendy - but it was pleasant and functional for walking in ways Hummer Road (near which I now l live) is not. I am going to continue to use walkable in what to me is a common sense way - Im sure if I say something outlandish someone will give there own opinion (and note - by MY criteria Reston outside the Town Center is still one of the more walkable communities in Fairfax County - as is unhip Kingstowne)

[Huckleberry3911948]

speaking bluntly it means safety.
its means u dont have to shoot someone to go for a walk--- and end up like zimmerman.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by michgc

I used to live near Montgomery Mall in MD in suburb heaven. The mall was literally across the street from my development. I could walk there - there were sidewalks. Next to the mall was a strip mall with a pizza place and some other things. Yet, I would not describe that area as "walkable." Suburbs were designed for and in the motor age. In the DC suburbs, however, it is so congested and built up that one effect is that shopping centers are often built directly across or next to developments. This allows people to walk to them, but honestly, they are designed to be driven to. And while a neighborhood may bump up against a shopping center, I wouldn't describe it as walkable, although there are some places to walk to.

'

I guess that makes you a hipster I guess I'm one, though I don't think I can fit into skinny jeans, and I've never owned anything made by Apple, and my irony doesn't always come off that well. And Starbucks is fair trade enough for me.

But I AM looking forward to the kickball games

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

That's why I said I hope all this talk about "walkability" results in more people actually walking, I really, really do hope so. But... to be honest... I have my doubts.

not to belabor this, but that is yet one more reason we like walking where there are lots of others walking. When my wife and I walk in places where no one else is walking, we do wonder why, (its not like no one lives there) and its disspiriting. When we walk in a bustling place, with lots of people walking, biking, etc, its a mood enhancer (beyond the exercise endorphins) - going to places like DC and Arlington and seeing young people (I refuse to dismiss them as "hipsters") embracing healthier ways of living gives me hope.

[bmwguydc]

Please, let's keep this discussion local. General discussions about walkability are not exclusive to NOVA, and belong in the proper forum, Urban Planning. Thank you.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

I do not mean a trendy area, a hipster area, a yuppie area, a coffee shop area or anything like that. I DO mean an area that is ATTRACTIVE to walk as well as safe, and the presence of storefronts is ONE aspect of that, though hardly the only one or most important.

All good--and another example of why it's important to give a little detail about what you mean. That way everyone understands what you're saying.

ps. Just a quibble, but since we are talking about the use of words, the word "youngsters" is not interchangeable for the word "hipsters." Not all young people are hipsters, not all hipsters are young people.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

I wouldn't consider a walkable town a new concept. There are plenty of little downtowns in the Midwest and West and in VA outside of the metro area that are quite walkable and have been for the past 100 years +.

Agreed! It's not a new concept...it's just a new label. Towns did not label themselves with the word "walkable" back then, because that would have been considered a silly thing to say. At least not as far as I know. It would be fun to see evidence of this though, if someone has any.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

But hey that's just me and about a zillion others on here looking for what I've defined as more walkable places.

Totally cool to have lots of different opinions--and had to laugh at the word zillions. Boy oh boy, no kidding.... have you seen the zillions of threads on this subject in Urban Planning? Apparently there are indeed zillions who feel the way you do and zillions who feel the way I do and zillions more who have other opinions--and the funny thing is not one person out of all those zillions ever changes their mind, no matter how much debating goes on.

Bmwguy is right, if we aren't putting a Nova spin on this, then it's an issue for the Urban Planning forum. Or maybe Great Debates. You're right, you're right, and yet... it's so hard to resist responding. But... you're right. I don't have any thoughts that give this a Nova perspective so I guess it's time to move on to the next thread. Or maybe I should say walk on over to the next thread?

[CAVA1990]

As a public service I think I'm going to build a hipster and walkable community here in NoVA called "C-D Crunchytown". it will have a town square around which you'll find a library, coffeehouse, organic grocer, micro-brew bar, garden center, bike shop, comic book store, bistros with outdoor dining, etc. Around it will be large homes selling for $200K with big yards and community amenities including bike and walking trails and a dog park. The schools will be excellent, with automatic admission to UVA, and will be walking distance from the neighborhoods. It will be an easy, reverse commute to job centers and will be crime-free. All streets will be plowed immediately after snowstorms.

You will then have a quick and easy answer for 99% of new posters inquiring about where to live in NoVA.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Bmwguy is right, if we aren't putting a Nova spin on this, then it's an issue for the Urban Planning forum. Or maybe Great Debates.

However, it's more fun and satisfying to debate these things with the posters you're familiar with. Like the difference between discussing national politics with your friends at a bar rather than with a crowd of thousands in a big stadium. I'm not as crazy about the general forums where five seconds after you post to it, the thread has already moved down to page 2.