Walk Score
October 4th, 2007 by Vihar Sheth | Posted in Ideas, Technology, TransportationI think I got this link from Sierra Club but I’m not sure, so thank you to the source, whomever you are. Why can’t I think of stuff like this? From the site:
What is Walk Score?
We help homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods. Walk Score shows you a map of what’s nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property. Buying a house in a walkable neighborhood is good for your health and good for the environment.
I plugged in my address and got a 91. Woo hoo! Then I plugged in my brother’s address, which is in an even more urban setting, and got an 83. Hmm. The creators do acknowledge the site isn’t perfect, but something that came up during a conversation about the two scores does hold true - while his address is around more amenities, a good number of these are relatively further than they are from my address. So there! The house in which I grew up - 42. Ah, gotta love the suburbs. What do the scores mean?
Your Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100. The walkability of an address depends on how far you are comfortable walking—after all, everything is within walking distance if you have the time. 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 - 90 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
- 50 - 70 = Some Walkable Locations: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
- 25 - 50 = Not Walkable: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
- 0 - 25 = Driving Only: Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!
If only everyone lived somewhere that was 70+. Check out your score, and when you’re moving or even picking a hotel, type in the address to see how mobile you can be on foot from the location. If it’s below 70, think twice!
P.S. - My post on the Katrina tour my wife and I took in New Orleans this past Monday will be up tomorrow, so please check back.
3 Responses to “Walk Score”
By Clark on Oct 4, 2007
I got a 62. I don’t even have a driver’s license!
By Vihar Sheth on Oct 5, 2007
No driver’s license! That’s unheard of in the Lou.
By Kelly on Nov 14, 2007
I believe that walk score is cool, but nowadays more and more people drive cars. Homes are often located in an area where some establishments are easier to get to by car than on foot. I’ve recently found a type of service on Fizber which is called Drive Score. It shows a map of what establishments are in your neighborhood and calculates a Drive Score based on the number of places within a convenient driving distance.