Walk This Way
Just finished reading the latest installment in a Slate series on walking in America and immediately went to WalkScore.com to find out how my suburb and immediate neighborhood rated. Not surprisingly, my suburb had a low score of 38 (out of 100) - it's large and mostly residential, bisected by a freeway and with only one older section served by public transit (bus). My current home, however, has a 74 score because it is in the hub of the town center, so almost everything we need, from stores to restaurants to the public library, police, schools, YMCA, an awesome bike path, etc. are within an easy walk.
Check your score here.
Here's what I do wonder though: Does a high walking score make for good running conditions? The higher the score, the closer to commerce, which to me signals more and longer traffic stops and street and sidewalk congestion - all obstacles when running. For instance, where I work has a walk score of 91 ("Walkers Paradise") - it is indeed a great place to go for a walk at lunch. But I've watched runners and they never get very far without having to stop for traffic during business hours, and they are literally pounding the pavement; there's no dirt trails until you hit Balboa Park a half mile away. Because it's urban, there are also typically some scary people searching for a score or a place to bed down for the night that can make a lone female runner feel unease.
So, do share your neighborhood's walk score and tell me if you agree with it.
Check your score here.
Here's what I do wonder though: Does a high walking score make for good running conditions? The higher the score, the closer to commerce, which to me signals more and longer traffic stops and street and sidewalk congestion - all obstacles when running. For instance, where I work has a walk score of 91 ("Walkers Paradise") - it is indeed a great place to go for a walk at lunch. But I've watched runners and they never get very far without having to stop for traffic during business hours, and they are literally pounding the pavement; there's no dirt trails until you hit Balboa Park a half mile away. Because it's urban, there are also typically some scary people searching for a score or a place to bed down for the night that can make a lone female runner feel unease.
So, do share your neighborhood's walk score and tell me if you agree with it.
