Walkability of Seattle? (neighborhoods, construction, university)

[LizzyBizzy47]

Hi everybody,

After I graduate from college I'd like to move to a different part of the country (I currently live in NY). I don't have a car and would like to live somewhere that is very walker-friendly. I live in a small town that is walkable, but it is still preferable to use a car to get around. I'd like a community where walking is a thing a lot of people do, I suppose.

Many sources cite Seattle as a very walkable city. What do you all think of this? Do you walk everywhere to get around?

Thanks,
Liz

[toughguy]

In the downtown area and within the various neighborhoods Seattle is very walkable, but the neighborhoods do not connect that well with each other. That should change a bit for the better once the light rail construction is finished.

[Alaskan Mutt]

Have not been to Seattle for a while but they use to have a fair city bus system.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by toughguy

In the downtown area and within the various neighborhoods Seattle is very walkable, but the neighborhoods do not connect that well with each other. That should change a bit for the better once the light rail construction is finished.

Very true and if you are living in the downtown area and walk alot be advised that the sidewalks are brutal on shoes for both men and women. The sidewalks in many areas have too much rock and pebble so they are not very smooth.

And what ever you do , don't ever jaywalk-you'll get fined, cops will call you derrogatory names afterwards as you walk away. The are really facists about this.

[texastrigirl]

Downtown Seattle is very walkable and the bus system has a free ride zone which is nice. My husband is a former NYC'er and is relatively impressed with the bus system in Seattle. We live in the burbs and he takes it to work and we often take it downtown to Mariners games or just to hang out. Our kids think it's fun. You can also check out Zipcar options for when you do need a car. Friends of mine in Portland use it and it seems like a good service.

[LookinForMayberry]

If you actually live IN Seattle, it's TOTALLY walkable -- and the transit system is fairly useful, albeit a bit confusing in its routing. (I always wished they'd set them up to just go N-S, or E-W, but they cover the strangest, most convoluted paths!)

Anyway, I lived in North Seattle for ten years. The first three, I sold my car and either walked or took the bus everywhere. (At the time, I was working full-time, and taking a "full load" at SPU, so I had a fairly demanding schedule.

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

Very true and if you are living in the downtown area and walk alot be advised that the sidewalks are brutal on shoes for both men and women. The sidewalks in many areas have too much rock and pebble so they are not very smooth.

And what ever you do , don't ever jaywalk-you'll get fined, cops will call you derrogatory names afterwards as you walk away. The are really facists about this.

I walk a 2 mile loop through downtown almost every day, and I have never noticed the sidewalks being especially tough on my shoes. In fact they arent any different than any normal sidewalk.

[W & C]

Yes.

I live in First Hill and work in downtown and I'm in my car maybe once a week, usually on a weekend.

Originally Posted by shoegal111

And what ever you do , don't ever jaywalk-you'll get fined, cops will call you derrogatory names afterwards as you walk away. The are really facists about this.

I have probably walked somewhere in the city darn near every day for the last 3.5 years and have never seen a jaywalker get fined. I wish they did. They should at least warn them. Some of these people (from out of town, I presume) have come very close to causing a major accident in front of my eyes.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by W & C

Yes.

I live in First Hill and work in downtown and I'm in my car maybe once a week, usually on a weekend.




I have probably walked somewhere in the city darn near every day for the last 3.5 years and have never seen a jaywalker get fined. I wish they did. They should at least warn them. Some of these people (from out of town, I presume) have come very close to causing a major accident in front of my eyes.

I lived downtown for three years and saw lots of people fined or given warnings. Usually either way the cops made a vulgar comment (e.g. stupid b**ch) at the end as they walked away.

[W & C]

Originally Posted by shoegal111

I lived downtown for three years and saw lots of people fined or given warnings. Usually either way the cops made a vulgar comment (e.g. stupid b**ch) at the end as they walked away.

Might I ask, which part of downtown ?

I work around 5th & University, go to the gym on 3rd & Pike and generally walk up and down Pine, Pike, Union and University aves almost every single day and have never witnessed it.