Gallup/Farmington/Rio Rancho in terms of walkability, temperature & health facilities (Albuquerque: movie theater)

[Jozeph]

Hello:

I am hoping that someone could give me some pointers about the following topics (questions) with regard to Gallup, Farmington & Rio Rancho, New Mexico -

1. Are all the three cities really "unwalkable"? According to walkscore.com, Gallup has a score of 26; Farmington 29 & Rio Rancho 13, which surprised me as Rio Rancho's population is the biggest among the three.

2. Which areas in Gallup, Farmington & Rio Rancho are actually walkable (to supermarkets)? Do they have good public transportation? I have some health issues and won't be able to drive a car.

3. Is it correct to say that since all the three cities are located in the northern part of the state, they have noticeably cooler temperatures in summer? Do they get humid during that time of year? And how about winter temperatures?

4. Do they all have well-equipped health facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and specialized care centers? In other words, would one have to travel to other cities to see medical specialists?

Thank you so very much for your assistance and help in advance!

Joseph

[Zoidberg]

It's almost as if you did a search for the least walkable cities even though walkability sounds like your most important characteristic.

Recommend you tell us where you're coming from, as "cooler" and "hotter" are all relative.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Jozeph

I am hoping that someone could give me some pointers about the following topics (questions) with regard to Gallup, Farmington & Rio Rancho, New Mexico -

We have lived in Rio Rancho 15+ years. Have been through Gallup and Farmington, and can't say to much about them.

Originally Posted by Jozeph

1. Are all the three cities really "unwalkable"? According to walkscore.com, Gallup has a score of 26; Farmington 29 & Rio Rancho 13, which surprised me as Rio Rancho's population is the biggest among the three.

2. Which areas in Gallup, Farmington & Rio Rancho are actually walkable (to supermarkets)? Do they have good public transportation? I have some health issues and won't be able to drive a car."

Rio Rancho is largely unwalkable...

From: https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/news/bus-...nto-rio-rancho

"For the first time ever, ABQ Ride will provide bus service into southern Rio Rancho and has created a new commuter route between Rio Rancho and the Jefferson corridor."

From The Official Site of Rio Rancho, NM - Public Transportation

Rio Rancho Public Transportation

ABQ Ride (bus service)
Rio Metro / Rio Transit (bus service)

Originally Posted by Jozeph

3. Is it correct to say that since all the three cities are located in the northern part of the state, they have noticeably cooler temperatures in summer? Do they get humid during that time of year? And how about winter temperatures?

No it would not be correct to say that...

They are three different climate areas, they are probably different altitudes, the winds can be annoying throughout New Mexico:

Rio Rancho: //www.city-data.com/city/Rio-Ra...ew-Mexico.html







Gallup: //www.city-data.com/city/Gallup-New-Mexico.html







Farmington: //www.city-data.com/city/Farmin...ew-Mexico.html

Originally Posted by Jozeph

4. Do they all have well-equipped health facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and specialized care centers? In other words, would one have to travel to other cities to see medical specialists?

No.

Rio Rancho, which is on the North Border of Albuquerque, combined, has the most "health facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and specialized care centers" in the entire state...

[Cactus Hibs]

Downtown Gallup could conceivably be considered walkable. There is a small natural foods co-op, a few restaurants and bars, a few jewelry and Native American art shops, a good number of nice historical buildings, some government offices, a bank or two, and not a lot else. Almost everything else in town - larger grocery stores, the movie theater, other restaurants, etc. - is located along the I-40 frontage road/old Route 66 or on US 491 heading north or south. These areas are decidedly not walkable, both in terms of distance or the relative wisdom/appeal of doing so. My experiences with walking in Gallup involve very long walks along a narrow inhospitable highway shoulder, as well as regular interactions with very aggressive panhandlers. Gallup has a large transient population, most of whom suffer from substance abuse issues, and long walks along the highway provide an excellent opportunity to see this for yourself.

Farmington has a lot of the same issues Gallup does, but is better in the sense that it's a larger community with a larger, nicer historic downtown and a good bit more investment in infrastructure. Still not a lot of businesses in the old downtown strip, however, although there is a grocery on the far western edge of the downtown strip. Otherwise, though, its commercial offerings are focused on the major highways running through town just like Gallup's are. As I recall, the more affluent northern and eastern parts of town are pretty much entirely car-focused.

Pancho has provided all the info you need about Rio Rancho but if you want a point of comparison it is a relatively prosperous car-focused suburb much like you'd find in many other parts of the western US. Not very walkable, unless you're willing to really trek long distances along busy boulevards.

[Jozeph]

Lots to think about in this case ...

Thank you all for your detailed responses !