how important is a walk score?

[Anonymous]

My walk score is 51--but I would never actually walk anywhere, even the places that are very close, because it's on crazy, high-traffic roads where people drive like animals. It's crazy that I have a grocery store .2 miles away and I feel unsafe getting there on foot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My neighborhood, which I love, has all of those things (shitty inboundary public schools, close proximity to shelters, halfway houses, and public housing projects), but it the price/square foot is shockingly high. Although it would be slightly higher with a better inboundary school and fewer shelters, it really couldn't go much higher. Walkability really is that valuable to many, including me.

Of course it would be higher if it was really a decent location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My neighborhood, which I love, has all of those things (shitty inboundary public schools, close proximity to shelters, halfway houses, and public housing projects), but it the price/square foot is shockingly high. Although it would be slightly higher with a better inboundary school and fewer shelters, it really couldn't go much higher. Walkability really is that valuable to many, including me.

Of course it would be higher if it was really a decent location.

It is an amazing location, but it is a very diverse location. Of course it would be higher without quite as many shelters, but it really couldn't go up too much. Most places around here are already at over $600/square foot. Some are much higher (ex. the White House).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My walk score is 51--but I would never actually walk anywhere, even the places that are very close, because it's on crazy, high-traffic roads where people drive like animals. It's crazy that I have a grocery store .2 miles away and I feel unsafe getting there on foot.

It appears that they're testing a new type of walk store that takes this kind of stuff into account. My walk score drops one point on this new scale.

[Anonymous]

walking to places does sound nice. my house is very car dependent.

[Anonymous]

Love the elitists that show up for posts like this!!!

[Anonymous]

to be honest, on one hand it sounds nice to be able to walk to a grocery store or cvs, but on the other hand, do I really want a busy commercial center near my neighborhood? attracts noise, cars, dirtbags, pollution and crime. its not really a slam dunk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love the elitists that show up for posts like this!!!

Are the elitists the ones who don't want to live near shelters, or the ones who live in shoeboxes near the shelters? Or both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:to be honest, on one hand it sounds nice to be able to walk to a grocery store or cvs, but on the other hand, do I really want a busy commercial center near my neighborhood? attracts noise, cars, dirtbags, pollution and crime. its not really a slam dunk.

I've lived in two neighborhoods in NoVA that are close to a "busy commercial center" I can tell you that these are not issues we have dealt with. Sure, if your house is the first one behind the shopping center, you might get some noise, but it has been a wonderful thing as a young family to NOT have to pile into the car for every little thing in life. Not every shopping center is created equal - there are definitely some that are better than others. But other than the parking lots at the centers being a little busy, we have no complaints and saw shopping centers closeby as a plus in our most recent house search. One of our favorite activities in the summer is walking up the street for ice cream/froyo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love the elitists that show up for posts like this!!!

Are the elitists the ones who don't want to live near shelters, or the ones who live in shoeboxes near the shelters? Or both?

I just laughed out loud in my cube. Well done. I presume this poster is referring to the commonly held notion that wanting to be able to walk to the grocery store is somehow elitist. I don't get it all. How is wanting to not own a car elitist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My neighborhood, which I love, has all of those things (shitty inboundary public schools, close proximity to shelters, halfway houses, and public housing projects), but it the price/square foot is shockingly high. Although it would be slightly higher with a better inboundary school and fewer shelters, it really couldn't go much higher. Walkability really is that valuable to many, including me.

Of course it would be higher if it was really a decent location.

Mine's not quite that high ($400/sq foot) but I'm not sure it could go any higher, either. However, there'a no question that removing the public housing would make it a nicer place to live. Concentrating public housing in one place has been proven again and again to be bad public policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:to be honest, on one hand it sounds nice to be able to walk to a grocery store or cvs, but on the other hand, do I really want a busy commercial center near my neighborhood? attracts noise, cars, dirtbags, pollution and crime. its not really a slam dunk.

I've lived in two neighborhoods in NoVA that are close to a "busy commercial center" I can tell you that these are not issues we have dealt with. Sure, if your house is the first one behind the shopping center, you might get some noise, but it has been a wonderful thing as a young family to NOT have to pile into the car for every little thing in life. Not every shopping center is created equal - there are definitely some that are better than others. But other than the parking lots at the centers being a little busy, we have no complaints and saw shopping centers closeby as a plus in our most recent house search. One of our favorite activities in the summer is walking up the street for ice cream/froyo.

yeah, I hear you. I live in Vienna off Hunter Mill Road, but down near the Toll Road. I would probably rather have a similar neighborhood closer to 123 and that Oakton center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love the elitists that show up for posts like this!!!

Are the elitists the ones who don't want to live near shelters, or the ones who live in shoeboxes near the shelters? Or both?

I just laughed out loud in my cube. Well done. I presume this poster is referring to the commonly held notion that wanting to be able to walk to the grocery store is somehow elitist. I don't get it all. How is wanting to not own a car elitist?

'Cause REAL 'Murkans surround themselves with tons of Deeeetroit steel, of course.

Notice that the poster(s?) who claims to represent hoi polloi routinely begins her posts with "Love" this or that thing she perceives to be on the opposite side of the culture war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I just laughed out loud in my cube. Well done. I presume this poster is referring to the commonly held notion that wanting to be able to walk to the grocery store is somehow elitist. I don't get it all. How is wanting to not own a car elitist?

It's not, if you're a lousy driver, can't afford a car, or just don't like to drive.

It is, if accompanied by references to how incredibly expensive (your) walkable neighborhood is, how wonderful it is to walk Chloe to her Chinese immersion charter school and/or pop into a bakery for a brioche, and how you could never, ever live like the suburban moms of Ashburn and Olney.

[Anonymous]

Our walk score is 95. We joke that we'd actually have to live inside the Metro station to get it any higher.

It is not important to a lot of people.

It is very important to some people.

I WAH so I could live in the middle of nowhere, but I choose high walk score area because today---I left my house to go to the gym 2 blocks away. After I finished my workout I remembered there were two kid bday parties this weekend--so one block from the gym I walked into the toy store bought two gifts had them wrapped up. From there- I stopped at the Stationary store for a card for my sister, Starbucks and whole foods for milk. I walked home showered and walked 2 blocks to get a spray-on tan for the weekend. I also grabbed a pair of earrings at one of the retail stores for an outfit I plan to wear tomorrow night. At 3:30 I walked to pick up my kids from school and we headed to the splash park and then Pinkberry.

I love NEVER getting in a car. Yes- I could have driven to a big strip and dealt with the crowded lots and the busy memorial day crowds. Instead- it was good exercise and convenience even if it is mo-fuckin' hot out there!

I do love having a spray tan, nail salon and gym within blocks of my house. GTL!!!!!

Seriously though I can do all errands and walk to schools and parks in a very short distance. As others have mentioned--downside is more density, more people, etc. but that is city-living. I don't mind that aspect. I actually crave it. I lose my mind with quiet and no action.