It seems to be all the rage these days. More and more, in cities all across the country, people are taking a second look at how they get from Point A to Point B. And not only that, they’re making sure they make the most of each trip so there are not wasted trips and thus wasted gas.
I bet back in the day - or everyday in a real walkable city like New York City - when someone is going out for whatever reason, he makes sure that wherever he’s going that he takes care of everything he can. Cities across the country, including Phoenix area suburbs like Chandler are rethinking their mass-transit options. Chandler, as an example, is increasing bus service by 50% to handle new found demand for its bus services. Not only that, their goals include convenient routes to link its riders to the light-rail stations in Mesa and Tempe while offering text messaging services to notify riders when a bus is nearing a stop (what a fantastic service!).
But what if - just what if - daily tasks like getting to and from work, grabbing a gallon of milk or a pint of beer, taking a yoga class and getting to the airport were all possible without turning on a car and fighting traffic? Is that even possible in this sprawled-out suburban valley?
Enter a great website that can help to answer that question: WalkScore.com
After entering your address, or perhaps the address of a property you may be considering your next or second home, you’ll find out just how “walkable” that location may be. You’ll have instant access to the distance from that property to grocery stores, convenience marts, bars, theaters, gyms, schools and more. WalkScore even throws all this information on a nice GoogleMap.
The website then creates a rating from 0 to 100 indicating if that location is walkable (a 100) or will require you to continue to she’ll out $4+ a gallon for gas (a 0).
You might be surprised at what your home is rated. For most people’s lives gas has been cheap and because its easier and more convenient to jump in the Jeep to grab a gallon of milk at the grocery store that’s 0.3 miles away, well that’s the option most people choose.
But in walkble cities - regardless of weather conditions - people don’t think twice about walking a half mile or more to meet friends for dinner, grab a pint or gallon. The surpise to me was that in my area, I have the man necessities within walking distance - grocery, restaurants, bars (if that’s a necessity), banks and convenience marts. Yet I can honestly say I’ve only walked once to the grocery store and a few times to nearby restaurants and bars.
Here is one great walkable area and one up-and-coming/soon-to-be walkable areas of the southeast Phoenix valley:
Centerpoint Condominiums :: 111 W 6th Street, Tempe, AZ :: WalkScore of 97
The only thing really missing in downtown Tempe’s Mill Avenue District is a full grocery store - and that’s coming at nearby Mosaic (hopefully sooner than later) with Whole Foods.
San Marcos Commons :: Downtown Chandler, AZ :: WalkScore of 72
An up-and-coming area, Historic Downtown Chandler offers a respectible score of 72 with many restaurants and bars within walking distance but lacks a reasonably decent grocery store - a Wal-Mart is well over a mile away.
With the addition of mass-transit options in the valley, areas like these will offer residents a neighborhood that brings many of life’s necessities within a short walk and brings the rest of the valley via light-rail and bus connections.
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