On a Walkabout

What do you think about when you consider the pros and cons of a potential residence? Do you think about the safety of the neighborhood? Number of trees? Ease and proximity of parking?
Walkscore.com is trying to get Americans to consider another, often overlooked, aspect of their potential homes, by providing a way for people to evaluate potential residences in terms of their "walkability".

According to the website, a neighborhood with a high walk score will have a few of the following characteristics: a community center, high enough density to make transportation easy, enough housing for all income levels so that all community members can work close to home, plenty of open space for recreation, accessibility for wheelchairs and pedestrians, narrow and shade-protected streets for speed control and walker comfort, parking in the back of buildings so that access is pedestrian-centric, and finally, proximity to schools and places of employment.

Walk scores range from 0 to 100, with low scores indicating neighborhoods without any destinations (schools, work places, grocery store, shopping, etc.) within reasonable walking distance. High scores indicate a "Walkers' Paradise", or a neighborhood where you don't need a car, and most people don't even need a bike to run errands or get to work.

While it may not be realistic year-round for the residents of northern Wisconsin or southern Texas, for most of us in the more forgiving latitudes of the United States, walking is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, increase your energy level and stay fit, meet your neighbors, enjoy some quiet time outside, and stay safer by being off the roads.

According to the New York Times Green Issue:

"Between 1977 and 1995, the number of daily walking trips taken by adults declined by 40 percent — while more than a quarter of all car trips are now shorter than a mile."

Frankly, it is ridiculous to get in a car to drive less than a mile, even though we are all guilty of doing so on occasion. Kudos to Walkscore for providing insight and incentives for people to use their feet!!!