WALKABLE pedestrian-friendly areas of VA (outside NOVA) (Norfolk, Richmond: rent, houses)

[Tiger Beer]

Having lived in NYC (very walkable and pedestrian-friendly)...and seen photos of places like ITHACA, NY...also seems very walkable and pedestrian friendly.

It seems the theme is cities that were PRE-AUTOMOBILE. Mainly, walkable and pedestrian friendly. You're able to easily walk out of your house and go rent a movie or eat at a restaurant without having to get into your car to do so.

Where parts of Virginia would be like that? How is Richmond or Roanoke or Lynchburg or Charlottesville or Harrisonburg?

[ptpilot]

I would say where I live right now in Richmond is very walkable and pedestrian friendly. From the Fan, I can walk (or bike, which lots of people do) to downtown, Carytown, Shockoe Bottom, plenty of restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. I can go without my car for days in this city, which is great! The only bad part is you may not want to be out by yourself at night in some of the areas.

Just outside my place, I can walk to a large grocery store, 2 smaller markets, 1 bank, 8 restaurants (though most of them are not good!), and a couple of odd shops. That's all within a 5-10 min walk. I usually take longer walks to Carytown, which is about 30mins (much less if I rode a bike or drove a car), but I prefer the grocery stores there (Ellwood Thompson's/Ukrops). If the weather is bad, it is still very easy to drive around this place, no traffic jams to worry about.

From what I have seen, parts of Norfolk and Charlottesville are walkable too. I don't know about the others. A website called walkscore could help you out.

[roanoker 4]

A new greenway project is being completed throughout Roanoke. Already it is possible to walk, jog or ride a bike in certain sections. The project is unfolding and even the Appalachian Trail hikers have discovered Roanoke.
Downtown is also very walkable and safe.

[xGrendelx]

Defintely Richmond. Their bus system is supposed to be top-notch too, and, like the previous poster said, biking is really big in Richmond...just make sure you got a U-lock.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

A new greenway project is being completed throughout Roanoke. Already it is possible to walk, jog or ride a bike in certain sections. The project is unfolding and even the Appalachian Trail hikers have discovered Roanoke.
Downtown is also very walkable and safe.

Does the Appalachian Trail go through Roanoke?

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

Defintely Richmond. Their bus system is supposed to be top-notch too, and, like the previous poster said, biking is really big in Richmond...just make sure you got a U-lock.

The bus system is good in the city. It doesn't serve the burbs hardly at all though (except for the express routes). This affects the ability for those without a car to get to the bigger retail places in the metro that exist outside the city.

[AJNEOA]

Richmond and Charlottesville are good choices. Richmond is much bigger, but Charlottesville is very quaint and beautiful (and very close to the mountains). Richmond is more urban, with rowhouses, a decent downtown (for its size), etc. Richmond is gentrifying in the downtown area, but the Fan, Museum District, Church Hill, etc. are great established neighborhoods.

I can't speak for Roanoake, but have heard good things. From seeing your other posts throughout the years, you seem well-traveled, but just keep in mind that both these places are SMALL. They have nice walkable cores, but they are surrounded by less walkable suburbs.

[brocco]

well, richmond was first planned and developed in the 1700s which is definitely pre-automobile lol. it is generally walkable but that depends on where exactly downtown you live and whether you work downtown. some areas in the city are pretty far from decent grocery stores. i would be scared to ride the bus personally, but plenty do.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by brocco

well, richmond was first planned and developed in the 1700s which is definitely pre-automobile lol. it is generally walkable but that depends on where exactly downtown you live and whether you work downtown. some areas in the city are pretty far from decent grocery stores. i would be scared to ride the bus personally, but plenty do.

The bus is totally safe and easy to ride, especially once you know the routes.

[VA Yankee]

You are aware your responding to a post that the OP wrote in 2009??