The Times had a little piece the other day about a website that determines how "walkable" a given address is - that is, do you really need a car? It's a google mash-up - plug in your address, and it plots nearby schools, restaurants, stores, and services, and determines the "walk score".
My house came up 86 out of 100 - or "very walkable".
Interestingly, the distance to public transportation, i.e. the commuter train, wasn't factored in. For me, walking distance to the train was one of our immutable needs when we were looking for a hosue.
Also, their algorithm plots things "as the crow flies" - which isn't always a possible way of getting from point A to point B. The site claims that my public library is .3 miles from my house - but that .3 would mean scrambling down a steep hill, climbing a chain link fence, wending my way through the woods, and fording a small stream. I stick to the road - that way, it's .5 mile.
But still - the site is fun.
What's your walk score?
13 August 2008
These boots were made for walking...
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28 comments:
71 of 100 - Very walkable. Of course, I knew most of the places.. and some of them are not listed. (Surprisingly, a Target store wasn't included.)
Still... now if they could just do something about the heat.. :)
~*
65 out of 100 — Somewhat Walkable...if only there were sidewalks!!!
Mine is 0. Zero. Sigh.
Mine was 32...very car necessary. Funny because I would have thought it was was walkable.
I'd seen that before. Maybe a year or so ago? My score is unsurprisingly unchanged since I last checked. Um...0. Sigh.
On the other hand, we can walk to a dairy farm. And a zoo.
34. And a bunch of the places they suggested to eat, etc? Closed. So yeah. Not walkable.
We're 54 out of 100 -- somewhat walkable. Which seems low -- we are VERY walkable! Near public transit (both local and city), near town center with shops, grocery, library, etc. I'm insulted. ; )
We get a 38, but they missed several important places. I can walk or bike almost anywhere I need to go. I don't always DO it but I COULD.
Shame they don't cover the UK. All we have in walking distance is an alpaca farm, a church and a pub. Then again - what more could you ask for?
66 out of 100... somewhat walkable.
Which makes perfect sense.
I would prefer it to be more walkable!
32. And everything they listed that is nearby is on a highway with no sidewalks. Might as well be zero.
mine's a mediocre 58.
75, now if it weren't 110....
I had a 48. I love that they put down the closest grocery store was a mini-mart!
43 which seems a bit optimistic to me.
as the crow flies i'm probably less than a mile to the library, Kmart, several restaurants, etc, etc. However, there is NO safe way to walk there, ever. I don't know what the site says, but my true walk score is 1. for the walk to my fabulous neighbor's house.
It bothers me that they only factor in places where you can BUY things. I didn't see parks listed, for example, or trailheads.
mine's terrible -- 26.
i already knew that. :(
I saw this article, too, and loved it. It confirmed what I have long known: what in the @#$% am I doing in the suburbs?
Mine's a 40--no surprise there--I'm smack in the middle of suburbia.
I do have a grocery store I can walk to though and I do that frequently.
la la la la la.
92.
that's why i pay the big bucks.....
88. But the algorithm seems to miss a bunch of closer amenities.
Plus, I think it doesn't take into account (but should) the quantity of stores, restaurants, whatever within walking distance. So a neighborhood with 12 restaurants within a 1/2 mile should get a higher score than a neighborhood with just 1 or 2.
6. And, I'm not surprised at all.
No doubt mine will be 0 but I couldn't get the sight to work. We could walk to the deli, firehouse and post office. Maybe it's not 0!
Nadine
OK, I just tried it using "oice" instead of "website" and we're a 3.
Nadine
Mine was a 60...however, the grocery store mentioned was a gas station/convenience store so I don't count that. BUT I'm really close to a major hospital so it would probably be better to walk if I get hit by a car then wait for an ambulance.
Mine gets a 63. But the "grocery store" is a 7 Eleven, the "library" is a private technical library and the bookstores and restaurants are on the other side of a major highway. Getting there requires a long walk around via an overpass bridge.
It's a great neighborhood for just plain WALKING though--lots of good hills and nice scenery!
Mine is 69, which surprises me since I don't drive here and manage to get everywhere I need to be by walking - P's school, work, shopping, restaurants, etc. I am pleased that the UK is actually included, as it so rarely is.
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