walkability
July 23rd, 2008
So, I just stumbled upon a website while reading my GREEN GUIDE magazine that is kind of cool…WALK SCORE is a website that tells you how walkable your or any neighborhood is, just enter an address….it scores on a scale of 1-100
my home in Ohio City scored an 89% making it “very walkable”
my store in the Detroit Shoreway scored a 77% making it “very walkable”
NOW….
What does my score mean?
Your Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100. Here are general guidelines for interpreting your score:
- 90–100 = Walkers’ Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
- 70–89 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
- 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
- 25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
- 0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!
The Walk Score™ Algorithm
Walk Score uses a patent-pending system to measure the walkability of an address. The Walk Score algorithm awards points based on the distance to the closest amenity in each category. If the closest amenity in a category is within .25 miles (or .4 km), we assign the maximum number of points. The number of points declines as the distance approaches 1 mile (or 1.6 km)—no points are awarded for amenities further than 1 mile. Each category is weighted equally and the points are summed and normalized to yield a score from 0–100. The number of nearby amenities is the leading predictor of whether people walk
first thing i thought of was how crime factors in and this is what i found on that:
How It Doesn’t Work: Known Issues with Walk Score
We’ll be the first to admit that Walk Score is just an approximation of walkability. There are a number of factors that contribute to walkability that are not part of our algorithm:
- Public transit: Good public transit is important for walkable neighborhoods.
- Street width and block length: Narrow streets slow down traffic. Short blocks provide more routes to the same destination and make it easier to take a direct route.
- Street design: Sidewalks and safe crossings are essential to walkability. Appropriate automobile speeds, trees, and other features also help.
- Safety from crime and crashes: How much crime is in the neighborhood? How many traffic accidents are there? Are streets well-lit?
- Pedestrian-friendly community design: Are buildings close to the sidewalk with parking in back? Are destinations clustered together?
- Topography: Hills can make walking difficult, especially if you’re carrying groceries.
- Freeways and bodies of water: Freeways can divide neighborhoods. Swimming is harder than walking.
- Weather: In some places it’s just too hot or cold to walk regularly.
Explore the Most Walkable Neighborhoods
