re: This "walkable cities" thing I keep hearing about...

quote:

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You can have walkable neighborhoods, not entire cities.

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I agree. The essential characteristic of a truly walkable area/neighborhood is safety. For example, my daughter (no pics) lives in the Midtown area of Starkville. She can walk to campus, the Cotton District, church, and the downtown area from her apartment. There are several restaurants and shops in her area, and the restaurants are mostly dog-friendly. She loves it. She often takes her dog for a walk, sees several friends along the way, and can then sit on the patio of a local restaurant or coffee shop with her friends and her dog and just catch-up and people watch. It’s a great area that fosters a real sense of community. However, a low crime rate is necessary to have the walkable areas. She takes reasonable precautions and maintains situational awareness, but if the area were dangerous, people wouldn’t be out walking like they do.

Also, she still must drive to get to grocery stores and such. It isn’t totally walkable, but it is far more walkable than most areas.