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This is a neat site. Walk Score - Helping homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods.
It determines the "walkability" of neighborhoods by calculating the distance to lots of different stuff. My neighborhood gets an 86 out of 100, though it should be higher. The site says that the only type of business listed farther than a third of a mile from me is a movie theater, but there's one of those right around the corner. It's no imax, but it's first run.
Yes I found DC very spread out indeed, you could certainly walk, but you might end up taking the Metro instead because of the distances.
When I think walkable cities, I invariably include cities with good rail/subway transportation. If you could/would be willing to live there without a car, then I would call it walkable. In big cities like NYC, Boston, and DC, the subway system is a huge benefit to being able to get around the city without a car. You still do a lot of walking, but the subway cuts out some of the distance. In fact, I think a good subway/rail system is critical for a big city to be considered walkable because it encourages people to leave their cars behind. I also think the point of walkable cities is that you have to interact with people as you go from Point A to Point B, as opposed to wrapping yourself in the cocoon of your vehicle.
When I think walkable cities, I invariably include cities with good rail/subway transportation. If you could/would be willing to live there without a car, then I would call it walkable. In big cities like NYC, Boston, and DC, the subway system is a huge benefit to being able to get around the city without a car. You still do a lot of walking, but the subway cuts out some of the distance. In fact, I think a good subway/rail system is critical for a big city to be considered walkable because it encourages people to leave their cars behind. I also think the point of walkable cities is that you have to interact with people as you go from Point A to Point B, as opposed to wrapping yourself in the cocoon of your vehicle.
I agree transit oriented and walkable cities go hand in hand. Its unfortunate though that those going from Point A to Point B by transit and walking always seem to have head phones now, most are not interacting at all.
Yes, although people see 'burbs as green, with fresh air, and think of it as healthier, people living in cities are often healthier by the mere fact that they walk a lot more - not to mention all of the mental stimulation going on.
When I was working I longed for a relocation in a rural area for the peace that it would bring. Now, I realize that the thought came about to counter all of the unhealthy job stress. I am tired of shovelling snow and mowing the lawn and think I will opt for a condo in Seattle, where the exercise will be walks to the market and theater and parks and libraries. Why spend your energy fighting acts of god when you can be learning and with other people?
San Francisco is also very walkable (although all of the homeless people make it annoying to walk anywhere). .
I guess it is relative. I just spent a week and a half there 2 weeks ago and I walked all over--Financial District, Union Square, Nob Hill, Chinatown, N Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, Tenderloin, GG park, Richmond, Sunset--and didn't get hit up once! Here in St Paul, I get hit up an a regular basis as I walk from my downtown office to the bus stop to go home...
I know SF has changed a lot, I visit there many times over the years and this is the first time I've >never< been hit up (and it's my longest time there and most walking, too)
Thanks for the insight Ben Around. What neighborhood are you in if you don't mind me asking?
-here
Don't mind at all: Highland Park, just a couple blocks from the Village.
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