Good neighborhoods to be car-less? (Pittsburgh, Harrisburg: credit, house, buy)

[robrobrob]

I personally think walkable neighborhoods are neighborhoods that have their own business district. I lived in Point Breeze for a bit. Even though I could walk to Shadyside or Squirrel Hill I would not call it walkable. Just too far for errands. Basically in a walkable neighborhood I think that the bus should be used to access things that aren't used on a regular basis. Like going to a movie.

Good luck to SCR with the job hunt. I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to get rid of your car. You might be upside down. And if you aren't driving it that often you will spend a lot less in gas and maintenance. So, you still may save money just by driving less. I would consider staying on as a driver one or two nights a week. What you earn could be set aside for your "house fund".

[gg]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

I personally think walkable neighborhoods are neighborhoods that have their own business district. I lived in Point Breeze for a bit. Even though I could walk to Shadyside or Squirrel Hill I would not call it walkable. Just too far for errands.

This is when it all depends on the person. To me Point Breeze is very walkable. I certainly could walk from there to East Liberty and run all my errands and wouldn't even think of driving for them. I probably would ride my bike because it is faster, but I am sure I would walk just for the fun of it. I love to walk and find it very relaxing. Aspinwall is walkable as well. You have all the shopping you would ever need right there. and if you are on the lower part of Aspinwall, you have an easy flat walk to the Giant Eagle and that lousy Water Works mess, not to mention the best State Store in PA, with the largest selection and it is open till 10:00PM, which is unusual.

SCR, being a one car family is probably not a bad thing. Let us know how it turns out. Walking 40 minutes to work sounds great to me. I find that to be a perfect time to reflect on things and that is so healthy.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

I personally think walkable neighborhoods are neighborhoods that have their own business district. I lived in Point Breeze for a bit. Even though I could walk to Shadyside or Squirrel Hill I would not call it walkable. Just too far for errands. Basically in a walkable neighborhood I think that the bus should be used to access things that aren't used on a regular basis. Like going to a movie.

IIRC urban planners have found that the average person in a neighborhood, if they have a car, will only walk around 10 minutes before they decide to drive instead. Hence a 10-minute walk is traditionally considered the limit for a "walkable neighborhood."

This honestly makes a lot of sense to me. From where I live, the Bryant Street and Greenwood Street business districts are about 15 minutes away at normal walking pace. That's fine if I'm taking a leisurely stroll - but that really doesn't happen too much if you're working full-time and have two kids.

[gg]

Originally Posted by eschaton

IIRC urban planners have found that the average person in a neighborhood, if they have a car, will only walk around 10 minutes before they decide to drive instead. Hence a 10-minute walk is traditionally considered the limit for a "walkable neighborhood."

This honestly makes a lot of sense to me. From where I live, the Bryant Street and Greenwood Street business districts are about 15 minutes away at normal walking pace. That's fine if I'm taking a leisurely stroll - but that really doesn't happen too much if you're working full-time and have two kids.

It makes sense, but is sad. 10 MINUTES? WOW! We wonder why we are so fat!

Just a little information about walking.


If you’re anything like the average American, you’re doing 5,117 steps a day, well shy of the 10,000 step mark and flirting dangerously with a formal sedentary classification. But we’re not alone (though we’re the worst). Of the four industrialized countries studied, not a single one found the mark. The Australians seem to come close, walking 9,695 steps a day. The Swiss follow with 9,650, and the Japanese are a bit further off with 7,168 steps per day. Contrast that with rural South African women, of whom just 11.9% can be classified as sedentary (under 5,000 steps a day) and for whom an average day means walking 10,594 steps (many of them done while carrying a load), or Amish aged 18-75 (PDF), who walk an average of 18,425 steps (men) or 14,196 steps (women) each day, and we’re all looking pretty darn sedentary.

Read more: Why We Don't Walk Anymore | Mark's Daily Apple

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by gg

SCR, being a one car family is probably not a bad thing. Let us know how it turns out. Walking 40 minutes to work sounds great to me. I find that to be a perfect time to reflect on things and that is so healthy.

Yeah, a 40 minute walk in the sleet or in humid summer heat is just what most people need to clear their heads.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Yeah, a 40 minute walk in the sleet or in humid summer heat is just what most people need to clear their heads.

Walking in sleet or light snow really does clear your head. Especially in the dark.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

Walking in sleet or light snow really does clear your head. Especially in the dark.

It's about being in the moment.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by doo dah

It's about being in the moment.

You're right, but as a daily commute, a 45-minute walk in all kinds of weather might be a slog after a long day as much or more often than it is a life-affirming commune with the city.

[Moby Hick]

If you combine your exercise and your commute, you save so much time.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

If you combine your exercise and your commute, you save so much time.

Not to mention money.

That said, if you're going to walk to work, you might as well ride on a bike instead. Still get the workout, and get there in 1/3rd the time.