What is the most pedestrian friendly area in the Phoenix metro? (Glendale: condos, neighborhoods)

[basebcs]

I have been to Phoenix many times and may be relocating to the area. I have lived in NY, SF, LA and Minneapolis and have usually lived in areas with alot of foot traffic and many places to walk to.

I realize that Phoenix is very different than these other cities but am wondering if there are any areas where you actually see people walking around alot.

I have visited Palm Springs several times and noticed alot of people walking around downtown even when it was 110+ degrees outside but haven't found anything like that in Phoenix yet.

Do areas like this exist in Phoenix?

[miamiman]

Mill Avenue in Tempe.

[fcorrales80]

downtown Phoenix, midtown Phoenix, uptown Phoenix, historic districts (too many to list), Mill Ave and University Districts in Tempe, Old Town Scottsdale, Biltmore (Phoenix), and many suburban communities offer great walkable areas and neighborhoods: Estrella, Downtown Glendale, Westgate, Tempe Marketplace, Peoria Sports Complex, Vistancia, Estrella, Verrado, City North/Desert Ridge, etc etc

[homlish560]

Believe it or not there are quite a few walkable sections in the Phx. metro area. They are pretty scattered though.

Phx. ususally isn't as hot as Palm Springs either, but you can find people walking around all times of the year because the weather is nice most of the time - even in the hot months of July and Aug because it's a dry heat as they say!!!!!

Kierland
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Mill Avenue - Tempe
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Downtown Scottsdale


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Downtown Glendale


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Of course we can't forget Downtown Phx.

[observer53]

Being able to walk around a neighborhood and being able to walk to a grocery store or pharmacy or other business can be two different things. There are MANY walkable neighborhoods and areas. Being able to actually walk where you need to go, or get by without a car, while certainly possible, is less common.

[basebcs]

Thanks for the responses and the very cool pics! I will definitely check out all these areas when I get back there this month. I wasn't really looking to walk to the grocery store or anything like that, just a cool area where you can go out to eat, grab a drink and see other people out and about. Being able to go to more than one place without having to get back in the car each time. Sort of like downtown Palm Springs, 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica or 2nd Street in Long Beach.

[nickw252]

I wish I could see the pics.

[Robert A]

Depends on how you define walkable. The metro is full of wide streets and fast cars, and the only truly walkable (or, pedestrian-friendly) areas I can think of are Mill Ave and Old Town Scottsdale. The former sort of sucks right now. The latter isn't my thing at all, but your mileage may vary.

I can't count City North, Kierland, Tempe Marketplace, or anything similar. Sure, you can walk around fine, but you've got to drive there (and besides, it's like saying the mall is walkable). Downtown Phoenix is starting to get there in spots, but the density just doesn't hold up and you won't encounter a lot of people. I love (love love love) it out here, but the real lack of a pedestrian-friendly environment is something that really bugs me.

EDIT: I should have read your latest reply before posting. If you're looking for something like 3rd Street in Santa Monica, you'll do fine with Kierland/Westgate/Tempe Marketplace. Keep in mind, you're basically going to the mall - but I guess when I think about it, so is the Promenade.

[bluespeed76]

i agree, there are some nice walkable areas for window shopping etc but you still have to drive to get there. in jackson heights queens, i get off the E train, then stop at the argentinian butcher for steak, then stop at any of the ten fruit/veggie stands, then stop at the pharmacy, then walk the 3 blocks home--this does not exist anywhere in phoenix. you have to drive and park and then walk--that is why downtown phoenix will never have a viable population living down there. even if you live in one of those admitedly beautiful condos downtown, walking to the grocery store and back with several bags down blocks much longer than in nyc in 110 degree heat seems like a daunting task when every supermarket has acres of free parking.

[OnYourSide]

Agree with a lot of what bluespeed76 said. Some of Tempe is also geared for walking, primarily because of a higher density in and around the University. That being said, it isn't comfortable to do during the summer heat.