What is a Walkable Community?
Not too long ago, Americans could walk down the street to their local grocery store, socializing with neighbors along the way. Streets had shops, restaurants and park benches. You could shop, stroll and chat and, having finished your chores, you had walked a few miles and seen a few friends.
In recent years America's suburbs have grown at a very fast rate. Many people live in homes too remote from town to walk and, even if the distance is not too far, sidewalks can be pedestrian un-friendly, covered in parked cars, and sometimes downright dangerous. More and more people are forced to use their cars every time they need to leave the house, compounding the problem further.
A new and growing trend is towards developing communities that are more pedestrian friendly and walkable. Walkable communities put people back in environments that lead to better social interaction and physical fitness and help people live healthier, happier lives. This growing trend is being recognized by existing communities that wish to improve the pedestrian-friendliness of their streets and also by developers who are creating new and exciting communities that are based around people ,not cars.
As you explore locations to live, consider the walkability of the community and how services, shops, and public spaces can be incorporated into your daily life. As you review how pedestrian friendly it is, look for the following features:
• Town centers should have a good mixture of stores and services. Is there a library and a post office nearby?
• There should be public space and/or parks where people can meet and children can play. Trees and wide sidewalks make walking a pleasure.
• Other good design features such as benches, shade, medians and appropriate ramps make walking feasible and enjoyable for everyone.
• Everything should be kept small. Smaller buildings and stores keep communities on a pedestrian scale.
• And, of course, people should be walking. More pedestrians help keep motorists courteous and are a true testament to the walkability of the community.
Interested in knowing how different communities rate? Go to www.walkscore.com to see the walkability of different neighborhoods locally and nationally.