SimpleDollar.com: Downsizing to one Automobile and Walk Score...

[larrydag]

Interesting article on tips to downsize to one automobile. The article mentions this really interesting website called Walk Score. It measures where you live to adjacent walkable locations and gives you a score on your "walk-ability".

My Walk Score was a 38. Not so great. I live in a large residential community so not too surprising.

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/...es-around-you/

[PaleMelanesian]

Hahaha! My walk-score was 6. And that's if you count a corner gas station as a grocery store. Yeah, I know. Choose a better location next time.

[Blue07CivicEX]

Ok, so I ran the numbers on the two places I grew up in Maine, my parents first home was a 2 and the place they live now is a 3 :-).

[Daox]

I guess I'm better off than most. I got a 69. I do bike a lot to friend's houses and such. However, I don't do much riding to the grocery/hardware store. I usually just stop by them on the way home from work.

I'll also mention, despite owning four cars I pretty much just use the Matrix.

[Peakster]

I currently live in 1980s suburbia with new 'big box' development just to the north of me, so I got 52/100. Walkscore.com is really handy for finding suitable places to live.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by Peakster

I currently live in 1980s suburbia with new 'big box' development just to the north of me, so I got 52/100. Walkscore.com is really handy for finding suitable places to live.

Unfortunately they need to update the data base. It list places that have been gone for years. It also appears that it uses distance as the crow flys and not acutal driving distances.

Still it's a good source.

[TimJFowler]

My home scored a 58 out of 100. Interestingly, a year ago my house scored 62 out of 100.

WalkScore.com uses the Google Local Search API to find local stores, restaurants, schools, etc. I noticed that the local results don't show a few of the nearby restaurants (including the brew pub that's a 12 minute walk from my house). I guess that shows some of the limitations with Google Local Search.

As well, WalkScore doesn't account for Public transit, Street width and block length, Safety, Pedestrian-friendly design, Topography, Freeways and bodies of water, or Weather. Not a perfect tool, but not a bad one either.

Tim

[Volones]

0 out of 100
I win!

Oh wait,
Not an unexpected result, as I live on a small farm over 5 miles from town.

Work is 45 out of 100, which is a bit lower than I expected. Still it reinforces my habit of running errands on the way home from work.

Cool little site, even if it's not perfect.

[cfg83]

larrydag -

I got a 66. Me happy.

CarloSW2

[igo]

I got a 64, but homes 2 miles from me get nearly 100.