Add a comment | Friday, January 22, 2010
Good Day my Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area!!…
Have you ever heard about Walk Score?… This is a trend that is finding a place in the search parameters for a growing number of homebuyers… just thought it would be of interest to you if you’re not aware of it…
About Walk Score
“55% of prospective homebuyers want a home with a mix of single-family and other higher density housing, sidewalks, shops, schools, and public transit within walking distance.”
Walk Score launched in July of 2007 and over 100,000 people visited the site on launch day. Since then, almost 6 million addresses have been served and Walk Score has been featured in over 500 newspaper articles and 50 TV segments.
Mission
The Walk Score mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods. We believe walkable neighborhoods are one of the simplest and most effective solutions to halt climate change, improve our health, and strengthen our communities.
Very soon all listings will read: Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Walk Score: 84. We want walkability and transportation costs to be a key part of choosing where to live.
Go ahead check your neighborhood Walk Score… http://bit.ly/6a08VL
Why Walking Matters
Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.
Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.1 Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15–45.
“We are here to show those guys that are inching their way on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human spirit is still alive.” - Patrick Swayze, Point Break
Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of global warming. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.
More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car!2
Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.3
Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It’s easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don’t need to drive between destinations.
Find the best neighborhoods for walking … in the largest 40 U.S. cities… http://bit.ly/6a08VL
