Using Technology to Deepen Democracy, Using Democracy to Ensure Technology Benefits Us All

Saturday, May 02, 2009

What's Your Neighborhood's Walk Score?

Eric and I both (but separately) rejected car culture well over two decades ago, and we have often talked about the various hilarious difficulties and unexpected pleasures this rejection presented us with as we navigated the various neighborhoods we've lived and worked and slutted around in over the years. Here's a list of forty or so "walker's paradises" on a scale of one hundred and down, plus a fun utility to calculate your present neighborhood's "walk score" in case it happens not to be listed. Our neighborhood only rates an 80 -- it takes a 90 to count as a "walker's paradise," it seems -- but we certainly have no complaints about walkability here at all, so those 90-plus locales must be paradisical indeed!

7 comments:

Go Democrats said...

My neighborhood's walk score is 17 out of 100! Woo hoo! We suck!

Ray said...

Mine received 60/100, which is ridiculous because trying to walk to any of the locations listed would likely result in being run over.

Seth Mooney said...

I get 94, lucky me. I also get the smell of jasmine pretty consistently; I wonder how much of the 94 that accounts for.

Anne Corwin said...

My neighborhood scored an 80, which sounds about right -- there are, at the very least, two decent grocery stores less than a mile away. However, the utility on the site linked is definitely still in need of some work -- I instant-messaged a fellow non-driving friend who currently lives in Athens, GA and he noted that for some of the areas he tried, the utility failed to account for the fact that while some destinations were indeed "close" to the entered address, getting there would require crossing an interstate freeway, etc. So, good idea, but needs some tweaking in the details.

Tree Hugger said...

So what do you think about the $2B "Cash for Clunkers" program?

Personally I think it's a load of crap.

People don't need cars. They could use this $2B for better public transit or car share programs.

btw, i live in a "walker's paradise" & i'd never live elsewhere.

Tree Hugger said...

Damn.. I feel like I'm the only one who's outraged over this program!

Public transit fares are rising as services are cut. Now, some people cannot even afford to take the bus. Why not help them?

Why not provide better more extensive public transit so it's a viable option for more people?

Why not have more "free ride" spare the air days (which were eliminated last year b/c of lack of funding!)

Why support this inane car culture? Nobody needs to own a car. It's a luxury. Some people might need occasional use of a car. That's where carpool/carshare programs come in handy. Why aren't we using this billions for an organizid carpool/car share program?

Besides, how many people can afford this LUXURY right now with the economy the way it is--even with this "Cash for Clunker" subsidy?

The only people who are in a position to do this are those who still have decent-paying jobs (or at least decent enough to finance a car loan), good credit, and/or ample cash in the bank. Why help these relatively privileged people when you have people that can't afford their gas or even public transit fare?

It would be great if we had something like, say, the GREEN PARTY be the voice of thoughtful reason on this issue--because the Dems sure aren't helping matters, as usual.

Damn, Dale.. I'm curious to know what you think about this? I see that you oppose the car culture too. Why are so many environmentalists supporting this sucky program?

Tree Hugger said...

Also, this is a not-so-cleverly disguised additional bail-out for the auto industry. It's rewarding them for nothing. They've done precious little to improve fuel efficiency or alternativce fuel cars. They still produce gas guzzling SUV's.

In fact, with this program, people could technically buy SUV's as long as the mpg is *higher* than their old cars.

So that means someone can trade in their, say, 1973 Buick Riviera that gets 3mpg (worth negative $50) and get cash towards, say, a Dodge Durango getting 10-12mpg!!!!!

FUCK THIS!!!!!

(Okay, done venting now)