Columbus Ranked 27th Most Walkable City

By Walker | July 26, 2008 6:39pm | Filed under Development | Comments

XING Columbus wrote Columbus Ranked 27th Most Walkable City

July 26, 2008 by johnwirtz

If you’ve never been to WalkScore.com, it’s a pretty cool site that allows you to input an address and get a walkability score out of 100. The score is based on proximity to destinations such as stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc. Distances are calculated as the crow flies, so actual walks will be longer, perhaps much longer if your origin is near a freeway or a body of water and the destination is on the other side. The walk score does not take into account the quality or safety of the walking environment, and does not include public transit as a destination.

The walkability map for Columbus is shown to the right. Weinland Park and Victorian Village received the highest neighborhood scores, at 89 out of 100. Downtown, the Brewery District, and Italian Village scored 86. German Village, John McCain’s hang-out, was mis-labeled as “Southside” and received a score of 82. Harrison West and the University District were the last two of eight neighborhoods scoring above 70, or “Very Walkable.” Columbus didn’t have any locations score above 90, which is labeled a “Walker’s Paradise,” although not necessarily “Walker Evans’ Paradise.” Click on the map to go to the interactive version at the WalkScore website.

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Related Tags: columbus • downtown • German Village • Harrison West • john wirtz • maps • rankings • south side • Victorian Village • walkability • walkable • walkscore • Weinland Park • xingcolumbus

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23 Responses to “Columbus Ranked 27th Most Walkable City”

#1
Brewmaster Says:
July 26th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Methinks that the starter streetcar line (a pedestrian circulator) would fit mighty well in that sea of “very walkable” green.
#2
Walker Says:
July 26th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
+1

I was sort of surprised to see Weinland Park tie with VickyVille as the most walkable neighborhood in Columbus.

Otherwise, I love how the interactive map also breaks down population by neighborhood. I’ve been looking for something like that for awhile. I wonder how accurate it is. Anyone know where that data is coming from?

Also, according to the boundaries drawn on the map, I live one block INSIDE of Downtown instead of OUTSIDE of it. Hooray for me. ;)
#3
Cyclist Says:
July 26th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Walker wrote +1

I was sort of surprised to see Weinland Park tie with VickyVille as the most walkable neighborhood in Columbus.

WP has the Kroger, SCG, and schools all close or within. WP has a complete grid and a couple corner stores. There are also medical places there by the Kroger, Bristol Bar, The bike co-op, the infoshop, the radical library, a Columbus library across from kroger.There is also a fighhouse, a new police station, and churches among the public institutions there. At least 5 bus routes go though or touch WP.

I can not think of any eateries though. SN is a bordering district to WP just as to VV.

The only major impediments to WP’s walkability are the two highways thru it- 4th and Summit and the low connectivity to Milo to the east because of the RR.
#4
JohnWirtz Says:
July 26th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Walker wrote Otherwise, I love how the interactive map also breaks down population by neighborhood. I’ve been looking for something like that for awhile. I wonder how accurate it is. Anyone know where that data is coming from?

WalkScore wrote

We weight the Walk Scores by population density (2000 Census) and group them into neighborhood boundaries provided to us by Zillow
#5
Brewmaster Says:
July 26th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
JohnWirtz wrote

WalkScore wrote

We weight the Walk Scores by population density (2000 Census) and group them into neighborhood boundaries provided to us by Zillow

That’s interesting. I wonder how much the Brewery District’s score is affected by having most of the land area swallowed up by the Whittier Peninsula. The population has probably doubled since the 2000 census too.
#6
ZHC Says:
July 27th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Walker wrote

XING Columbus wrote Downtown, the Brewery District, and Italian Village scored 86…. Columbus didn�t have any locations score above 90, which is labeled a �Walker�s Paradise,� although not necessarily �Walker Evans� Paradise.�

Not entirely accurate at least based on what i was playing around with

The Red Brick District scored an 89 when I punched in various addresses and the Arena scored a 91, but since both are subsets of downtown my guess is that they weren’t broken out independently.

I’m sure a lot depends on what addresses you punch in, but still that’s not too bad :)

Fun site to revisit, would be neat if they could chart how a neighborhood’s walk score changes yoy. e.g. maybe the Arena has been gaining points of the last 10 years….
#7
JohnWirtz Says:
July 27th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
ZHC wrote

Walker wrote

XING Columbus wrote Downtown, the Brewery District, and Italian Village scored 86…. Columbus didn�t have any locations score above 90, which is labeled a �Walker�s Paradise,� although not necessarily �Walker Evans� Paradise.�

Not entirely accurate at least based on what i was playing around with

The Red Brick District scored an 89 when I punched in various addresses and the Arena scored a 91, but since both are subsets of downtown my guess is that they weren’t broken out independently.

I’m sure a lot depends on what addresses you punch in, but still that’s not too bad :)

Fun site to revisit, would be neat if they could chart how a neighborhood’s walk score changes yoy. e.g. maybe the Arena has been gaining points of the last 10 years….

I think the numbers shown for each neighborhood are aggregated somehow, not based on any single individual address. There will be specific addresses within each neighborhood that score above and below the neighborhood average.
#8
ZHC Says:
July 27th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
JohnWirtz wrote

I think the numbers shown for each neighborhood are aggregated somehow, not based on any single individual address. There will be specific addresses within each neighborhood that score above and below the neighborhood average.

Yeah that’s what I figured, I just thought it was worth pointing out, since I don’t think most people here consider downtown to be one giant homogeneous neighborhood.

e.g. Arena district is pretty different than Town Franklin

thanks for bringing this back up, I forgot about the site.
#9
Columbusite Says:
July 27th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
ZHC wrote

JohnWirthttp://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/posting.php?mode=quote&p=175946z wrote

I think the numbers shown for each neighborhood are aggregated somehow, not based on any single individual address. There will be specific addresses within each neighborhood that score above and below the neighborhood average.

Yeah that’s what I figured, I just thought it was worth pointing out, since I don’t think most people here consider downtown to be one giant homogeneous neighborhood.

e.g. Arena district is pretty different than Town Franklin

We have more residents than the AD, but pale in comparison to the number of restaurants and shopping within walking distance, even though I got a 78. Why no developer is doing mixed use right next to an established, gentrified neighborhood is a mystery.
#10
cab124 Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Here is an article on MSNBC touting the benefits of walkable neighborhoods…

“Heavy? Your neighborhood may be to blame. Those built before 1950 help keep you skinnier by encouraging walking”
#11
John Ross Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Walker wrote +1

I was sort of surprised to see Weinland Park tie with VickyVille as the most walkable neighborhood in Columbus.

Otherwise, I love how the interactive map also breaks down population by neighborhood. I’ve been looking for something like that for awhile. I wonder how accurate it is. Anyone know where that data is coming from?

Also, according to the boundaries drawn on the map, I live one block INSIDE of Downtown instead of OUTSIDE of it. Hooray for me. ;)

That map is classicst!

The amenities list for German Village didn’t include half of the bars I walk to regularly. Short North establishments — with their swanky techno-savviness — are just better at getting on those lists and upping surrounding scores!!!!
#12
John Ross Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I think we can all agree that German Village is the best neighborhood ever, regardless of that site.
#13
Brewmaster Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
John Ross wrote I think we can all agree that German Village is the best neighborhood ever, regardless of that site.

Haven’t you been listening to Columbusite? Town Franklin makes German Village look like Woodland Meadows.
#14
Walker Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
John Ross wrote The amenities list for German Village didn’t include half of the bars I walk to regularly. Short North establishments — with their swanky techno-savviness — are just better at getting on those lists and upping surrounding scores!!!!

All data is compiled through google maps. Any business can submit their information to google for free. You should get on those GV businesses to do so. Will be good for them and good for you.
#15
Walker Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
To express support of Complete Streets principles.

WHEREAS, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a Complete Street; and

WHEREAS, Columbus traffic engineers and transportation division officials are currently studying Complete Streets principles to ensure that whenever possible, the entire right of way of every Columbus roadway is designed and operated to enable safe access for all users; and

WHEREAS, a good Complete Streets policy contains the following elements:

� Specifies that “all users” includes pedestrians, bicyclists, motorized two-wheel vehicles, transit vehicles and users and motorists of all ages and abilities

� Recognizes the need for flexibility: that all streets are different and user needs will be balanced

� Is adoptable by all agencies to cover all roads

� Applies to both new and retrofit projects, including design, planning, maintenance, and operations, for the entire right of way

� Makes any exceptions specific and sets a clear procedure that requires high-level approval of exceptions

� Directs the use of the latest and best design standards, including traffic calming where appropriate and environmentally friendly elements

� Directs that Complete Streets solutions fit in with the context of the community

� Establishes performance standards with measurable outcomes; and

WHEREAS, an effective Complete Streets policy should prompt agencies to:

� Restructure their procedures to accommodate all users on every project

� Re-write their design manuals to encompass the safety of all users

� Re-train planners and engineers in balancing the needs of diverse users

� Create new data collection procedures to track how well the streets are serving all users; and

WHEREAS, both the Columbus Comprehensive Plan and the recently adopted Bicentennial Bikeways Plan recommend that Columbus adopt Complete Streets principles; now, therefore

Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Columbus:

That this Council supports the implementation of Complete Streets policies in Columbus, and urges the Public Service Department and the Transportation Division to include these policies in all street construction, reconstruction and repair projects.
#16
Tuiblue Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
27th…

While I guess it is good that we are moving up, we still have a LOOOONG way to go. We are one of the flattest cities in the US, yet, we aren’t walkable? You would think such geography would be perfect for a walking/biking city.

But on the contrary, I think it has made is the perfect city for unimpeded suburban sprawl.

The new bike path plan, improvements in public transportation, and more centrally located business, residences, and entertainment are things on which we need to focus in order to become a Portland or Austin.
#17
JohnWirtz Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Tuiblue wrote 27th…

While I guess it is good that we are moving up.

Are we? What was Columbus ranked last year?

Welcome to the site.
#18
gramarye Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Tuiblue:

First, welcome!

Second, I think your caveat swallows your point. The fact that Columbus is so flat–and so land-rich–is very much why we’ve grown outward (which is less pedestrian-friendly than growing upward). Manhattan is amazingly walkable because they’ve had to be extremely efficient with a comparatively small amount of space. Columbus will never face such natural space pressures. In fact, Columbus often veers in the other direction: forcing sprawl via height restrictions for buildings that make it impossible to grow vertically even in places where the market demand to do so might actually be there. The only place where you can really build vertically with little trouble is in Downtown proper.
#19
Tuiblue Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Why thanks for the welcome messages!

I thought I read that we were moving up, but I guess I just scanned the article b/c couldn’t find it when I read it again….maybe we aren’t moving up.
#20
Walker Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Tuiblue wrote I thought I read that we were moving up, but I guess I just scanned the article b/c couldn’t find it when I read it again….maybe we aren’t moving up.

WalkScore.com is a very new site. I don’t think they published a list last year for us to move up from. ;)

Honestly, if we want to move up in their rankings we need to get businesses to register their business information with google so that those missing amenities are accounted for in our city’s walkscore.
#21
rory Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Walker wrote +1

I was sort of surprised to see Weinland Park tie with VickyVille as the most walkable neighborhood in Columbus.

Otherwise, I love how the interactive map also breaks down population by neighborhood. I’ve been looking for something like that for awhile. I wonder how accurate it is. Anyone know where that data is coming from?

Also, according to the boundaries drawn on the map, I live one block INSIDE of Downtown instead of OUTSIDE of it. Hooray for me. ;)

It’s no surprise if you live in Weinland Park. Everything is really close. Libraries, grocery store (which will be brand new in about a year), Wexner Center and the the whole Short North. And it’s easy to get downtown, out to Easton, or the airport if you do feel the need to drive.

Hey Walker, it’s not too late to sell your house and move to the cool part of town. :wink:
#22
Walker Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Heh, thanks. :D

I know the area is very walkable and has a lot of things nearby… I guess I just thought the Short North, German Village, or OSU Campus Area would have topped Weinland Park by a little bit.
#23
jimbach Says:
August 1st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Walker wrote Heh, thanks. :D

I know the area is very walkable and has a lot of things nearby… I guess I just thought the Short North, German Village, or OSU Campus Area would have topped Weinland Park by a little bit.

Weinland Park is imminently walkable, especially if you don’t mind eating in bad restaurants, going to the cinema to watch bad movies*, and shopping in a bad grocery. Otherwise…

I live in WP and I walk to work nine months out of the year. In Summer quarter I bike to work. In many ways it’s a great neighborhood in which to live because there are a lot of places to shop and things to do close by. But, for obvious demographic reasons, those places and things are geared to the young and/or poor.

* OK, the Wexner Center shows a lot of great stuff, so I do have a choice besides superhero movies.