What’s Your Neighborhood’s Walk Score – Walkscore.com
August 7th, 2008 | by Masa |
Even though I’ve been more like a public transit rider than a city walker, walkability is still the important factor when I decide a place to live. This website, Walkscore.com tells you the walkability score of your neighborhoods by just inserting the address you want to search. The degree of walkability, “walkscore” is measured in the scale of 100. The higher the number you get, the more walkability in the neighborhood. However, some flaws in Walkscore.com is that the “quality” of the neighborhood isn’t into consideration. Walkscore primary depends on ”quantity;” how many stores, parks, restaurants, in the neighborhood. Apparently, 24 hours grocery stores are preffered to stores that close at 7pm.
Also, Walkscore.com provides ranking of cities in the United States in terms of walkability. Thankfully San Francisco has been ranked in the highest. However, although I believe that San Francisco has been one of the most walkable cities in naiton, I am highly suspicious about the result. San Francisco’s public transportation system, Muni has been said the worst metropolitan transit system in the United States. Some parts between in the neighborhoods are actually very far or dangerous to walk by yourself. Compared to New York and other cities, steep hills in San Francisco force you to wear walking shoes and sneakers unless you drive a car.
If they put these quality issues into consideration, I think this website would be very useful. I love the idea of walkable city. And I would like them to keep on promoting that. It may possibly lower the crime rate, improve public transit (=less car dependency), and solve obesidy.
Find out your neighborhood’s walk score.
Tags: car dependency, cities in the united states, metropolitan transit system, neighborhood, san francisco, score, walkability, walking shoes, Walkscore
