STUDIO 630

A New Site Calculates Your Neighborhood’s Walkability

Walkability matters. Research shows that more walkable neighborhoods tend to be stronger economically, have lower transport costs, and promote better health and well-being.

But, other than living there, how do you know if an area is walkable?

Walkonomics is a new site that aims to build up as comprehensive a picture as possible. Services such as Walk Score already score proximity to restaurants and shops (and more); how long your commute is; and allow you to compare areas. But, according to Adam Davies, that’s only part of the story of walkability. Ideally, you also want to know things like how safe the streets are, whether the sidewalks are wide enough, how clear the signage is, and also—less tangibly—how clean the street is, and whether it’s relaxing and fun. Distance, in other words, is not the only factor—perhaps not even the most important factor.

By Ben Schiller

via FastCoDesign