Walkability, house size, etc

[Anonymous]

We paid a decent walkability premium for our Arlington TH. First couple years we were walking everywhere with the stroller. When our toddler graduated from stroller age we've reached a bit of an awkward stage, as long walks aren't so feasible and stroller isn't an option anymore. So now we jump in a car more often though we'd prefer to walk. Anyone else found themselves in this boat?

When we buy a detached home, we would still prefer to be close in and within 2 miles of an urban hub, but I think we'll trade away the walkability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Walk Score is only 72, but I'm not sure why car & bike share is such a strong factor.

That is for the whole city. Many neighborhoods have much higher scores. Mine is 95, and I love it. Ask don't drive often, I frequently grab a bike if I'm going more than five blocks in a hurry. Friends without cars sometimes grab one for an hour or two to run an errand. The availability of these Orion's make living without a car in a walkable neighborhood much easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Walk Score is only 72, but I'm not sure why car & bike share is such a strong factor.

That is for the whole city. Many neighborhoods have much higher scores. Mine is 95, and I love it. Ask don't drive often, I frequently grab a bike if I'm going more than five blocks in a hurry. Friends without cars sometimes grab one for an hour or two to run an errand. The availability of these Orion's make living without a car in a walkable neighborhood much easier.

Sounds like life in an undeveloped 3rd world country

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Walk Score is only 72, but I'm not sure why car & bike share is such a strong factor.

That is for the whole city. Many neighborhoods have much higher scores. Mine is 95, and I love it. Ask don't drive often, I frequently grab a bike if I'm going more than five blocks in a hurry. Friends without cars sometimes grab one for an hour or two to run an errand. The availability of these Orion's make living without a car in a walkable neighborhood much easier.

Sounds like life in an undeveloped 3rd world country

That just happens to have almost any amenity I would ever want within just a few blocks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Walk Score is only 72, but I'm not sure why car & bike share is such a strong factor.

That is for the whole city. Many neighborhoods have much higher scores. Mine is 95, and I love it. Ask don't drive often, I frequently grab a bike if I'm going more than five blocks in a hurry. Friends without cars sometimes grab one for an hour or two to run an errand. The availability of these Orion's make living without a car in a walkable neighborhood much easier.

Sounds like life in an undeveloped 3rd world country

Cities in 3rd world countries are positively jammed with cars these days.

[Anonymous]

Anyone tried crossing Delhi or Mexico City in a car over the past ten years? You're sitting in car traffic for hours. That's not something to aspire to. Cities with the funds should invest in sufficient public transport and promote walking and biking routes. You're more likely to find that in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Walk Score is only 72, but I'm not sure why car & bike share is such a strong factor.

That is for the whole city. Many neighborhoods have much higher scores. Mine is 95, and I love it. Ask don't drive often, I frequently grab a bike if I'm going more than five blocks in a hurry. Friends without cars sometimes grab one for an hour or two to run an errand. The availability of these Orion's make living without a car in a walkable neighborhood much easier.

Sounds like life in an undeveloped 3rd world country

Or, say, Amsterdam.

[Anonymous]

3rd world countries don't have stores in their neighborhoods. Come on, stop with the 3rd world country bullshit already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That just happens to have almost any amenity I would ever want within just a few blocks.

NYC is the only place in the US where I'd readily embrace a car-free, totally walkable lifestyle. In DC you can get by without a car but you'd miss out on most of what the region has to offer. I think the best approach in ths area is to live in places that are not totally car-dependent, but have great access to both public transportation and major roads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We paid a decent walkability premium for our Arlington TH. First couple years we were walking everywhere with the stroller. When our toddler graduated from stroller age we've reached a bit of an awkward stage, as long walks aren't so feasible and stroller isn't an option anymore. So now we jump in a car more often though we'd prefer to walk. Anyone else found themselves in this boat?

When we buy a detached home, we would still prefer to be close in and within 2 miles of an urban hub, but I think we'll trade away the walkability.

At 5 and 7 my kids run/walk everywhere. It's great to walk over to the bookstore or yogurt shop or to the playgrounds snd school.

We had a lot of creative ways to deal with short-lived toddler years...such ad the kettler trike, push car, scooters, etc. we are so glad we stayed. We let kids pick one of 60 places to eat in walkable distance on weekends.

It's a trade-off though--not have a big yard for everyone to run around in. We go to parks-the older kids in our neighborhood go on their own.

[Anonymous]

Lol walkability get a life some of us have places to go and its quicker to drive . I would hate brigg bound to my area or plan my life around the ability to hand carry things home. Remember when you were a teen and couldn't wait to get your license and not be home bound and have independence? Funny how we justify barely screeching by to live in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol walkability get a life some of us have places to go and its quicker to drive . I would hate brigg bound to my area or plan my life around the ability to hand carry things home. Remember when you were a teen and couldn't wait to get your license and not be home bound and have independence? Funny how we justify barely screeching by to live in the city.

Lol walkability get a life some of us have places to go and its quicker to drive . I would hate BEING bound to my area or plan my life around the ability to hand carry things home. Remember when you were a teen and couldn't wait to get your license and not be home bound and have independence? Funny how we justify barely screeching by to live in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol walkability get a life some of us have places to go and its quicker to drive . I would hate brigg bound to my area or plan my life around the ability to hand carry things home. Remember when you were a teen and couldn't wait to get your license and not be home bound and have independence? Funny how we justify barely screeching by to live in the city.

Lol walkability get a life some of us have places to go and its quicker to drive . I would hate BEING bound to my area or plan my life around the ability to hand carry things home. Remember when you were a teen and couldn't wait to get your license and not be home bound and have independence? Funny how we justify barely screeching by to live in the city.

I can drive my car from my 82 walkscore home to wherever I need to go.

You, on the other hand have to drive everywhere and MUST spend a fair bit of time looking for a place to park.

What's more liberating?

I'd say similar things to someone who puts up with petty crime in their area because "IT'S SO WALKABLE!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol walkability get a life some of us have places to go and its quicker to drive . I would hate brigg bound to my area or plan my life around the ability to hand carry things home. Remember when you were a teen and couldn't wait to get your license and not be home bound and have independence? Funny how we justify barely screeching by to live in the city.

I grew up in the Fairfax Co suburbs and overwhelming boredom is what I remember experiencing in mide school and HS years. Giant was the only place walkable and the pool.

I have lived in the city or urban suburb ever since I graduated from college. I also remember being on college breaks and too far from the city to cab/not near a Metro . There was a lot of drinking and driving.

I would have loved to have my allowance and be able to walk to a ton of places. Our neighbors kids do t leave home because walk score is 98 and all their friends want to sleepover (20s, but can't afford rent)... So there's that..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol walkability get a life some of us have places to go and its quicker to drive . I would hate brigg bound to my area or plan my life around the ability to hand carry things home. Remember when you were a teen and couldn't wait to get your license and not be home bound and have independence? Funny how we justify barely screeching by to live in the city.

I grew up in the Fairfax Co suburbs and overwhelming boredom is what I remember experiencing in mide school and HS years. Giant was the only place walkable and the pool.

I have lived in the city or urban suburb ever since I graduated from college. I also remember being on college breaks and too far from the city to cab/not near a Metro . There was a lot of drinking and driving.

I would have loved to have my allowance and be able to walk to a ton of places. Our neighbors kids do t leave home because walk score is 98 and all their friends want to sleepover (20s, but can't afford rent)... So there's that..

Aren't you the same poster who always complains about Woodson HS? Honestly, you just sound like you weren't well adjusted. I loved growing up in Fairfax County and so do my kids. There are tons of things to do and they are rarely bored.

I do worry about the risk of area teens drinking and driving, but I also recall going to college and finding that it was the city kids from private schools who were the big druggies.