Head on over to walkscore.com to determine the walkability of your neighborhood. If you’re looking to rent or buy a new place, use this tool to find a highly walkable neighborhood. Location matters — some places are more conducive to active living than others.
Our current location rates a 66. One of my addresses, in the Tower Grove South neighborhood, fared even better, at 72. I’m dreaming of a 90+.
Here is the rating scale:
- 90–100 = Walkers’ Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
- 70–89 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
- 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
- 25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
- 0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!
One BIG caveat — this only shows a small part of the walkability picture: distance. For example, if you live in a neighborhood alongside an interstate, and there is a grocery store, library, restaurant, and school directly on the other side of the interstate, say 1/2 mile on the map, this system would give it a high walkability rating. However, you can’t just mosey across 8 lanes of 60 MPH traffic to get to those destinations. In reality, you may have to travel 2+ miles to actually get to a point where you can cross the interstate. In other words, NOT so walk friendly. The system also does not take into account the presence/absence of pedestrian friendly street design, such as sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.
Her Green Life 