Walk This Way!

Between the gorgeous autumn weather and the high prices of gas, it seems like a great time to choose walking over driving. Plus, walking is healthier for us and for our environment. But just how “walkable” is your neighborhood? Could you easily accomplish everyday errands by opting to walk rather than drive?

Get help deciding if you should abandon your car keys for your walking shoes by visiting www.walkscore.com. Walk Score is a web site that helps estimate your neighborhood’s “walkability.” Walkability is determined by measuring how close your home is to nearby amenities like restaurants, convenient stores, libraries, parks, coffee shops, movie theatres, shopping centers, and more.

Upon visiting the site, you’ll be prompted to type in your address to calculate your walk score. Scores can range from one to one hundred—the higher your score, the better your neighborhood’s walkability. In addition to the score, you’ll also be provided a map with stores, parks, schools, etc. all marked with distances calculated from your home. Hopefully your neighborhood ranks a “Walker’s Paradise,” the highest category, opposed to “Car Dependent,” the lowest.

Although Walk Score is a convenient and fun way to learn more about the amenities within walking distance of your home, it isn’t a perfect or official score. The score is formulated by technology that measures distance only. It doesn’t measure factors like conditions of sidewalks, street lighting within a neighborhood, or if a walking route is hilly or flat. Though Walk Score is a good resource, you’re probably the best judge of your own neighborhood and what walkable means to you.

Poke around for more interesting walk-related information when you’re visiting the site. See a list of the country’s most walkable neighborhoods (Boston is rated number three!), learn about how the site’s technology works and some of the glitches they’re working out, and read about the benefits of walking.