Comments on: Walkable? Sure. But to where? http://www.equityblog.org/2008/06/06/walkable-sure-but-to-where/ A Community of Voices. A Movement for Change. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:02:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: mac http://www.equityblog.org/2008/06/06/walkable-sure-but-to-where/#comment-93 mac Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:23:01 +0000 http://www.equityblog.org/2008/06/06/walkable-sure-but-to-where/#comment-93 thanks for that! my spot got a 75. i was thinking it was less... gotta go; im off for a walk. thanks for that! my spot got a 75. i was thinking it was less… gotta go; im off for a walk.

]]> By: Rajni Banthia http://www.equityblog.org/2008/06/06/walkable-sure-but-to-where/#comment-80 Rajni Banthia Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:57:29 +0000 http://www.equityblog.org/2008/06/06/walkable-sure-but-to-where/#comment-80 Thanks for a great post. The sad reality is that a lot of people, especially those in lower-income communities, often have little choice but to do their grocery shopping at convenience stores or look to a fast-food joint for their next meal. Food access is a major problem for many families, and the current rise in prices of commodities including fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products is only going to make a bad situation worse. And for the record, despite the area around our office being labeled a “walker’s paradise,” the small market around the corner is not a full-service grocery store. Thanks for a great post. The sad reality is that a lot of people, especially those in lower-income communities, often have little choice but to do their grocery shopping at convenience stores or look to a fast-food joint for their next meal. Food access is a major problem for many families, and the current rise in prices of commodities including fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products is only going to make a bad situation worse. And for the record, despite the area around our office being labeled a “walker’s paradise,” the small market around the corner is not a full-service grocery store.

]]> By: shireen malekafzali http://www.equityblog.org/2008/06/06/walkable-sure-but-to-where/#comment-79 shireen malekafzali Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:20:11 +0000 http://www.equityblog.org/2008/06/06/walkable-sure-but-to-where/#comment-79 Great point. It’s also important to note that walkscore.com doesn't take into account whether it's in fact easy and safe to walk within the neighborhood -even if there are a lot of shops and restaurants around. They note this is as limitation of using google maps, which only accounts for distance and retail. Important determinants for walking include the presence and quality of sidewalks, availability of safe crosswalks, how fast traffic is moving, and whether people feel safe from crime and pedestrian injuries. While being in walking proximity to shops, restaurants and commercial districts are important they are not the whole picture. Great point. It’s also important to note that walkscore.com doesn’t take into account whether it’s in fact easy and safe to walk within the neighborhood -even if there are a lot of shops and restaurants around. They note this is as limitation of using google maps, which only accounts for distance and retail.

Important determinants for walking include the presence and quality of sidewalks, availability of safe crosswalks, how fast traffic is moving, and whether people feel safe from crime and pedestrian injuries.

While being in walking proximity to shops, restaurants and commercial districts are important they are not the whole picture.

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