http://www.walkscore.com/OH/Columbus

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!!!

“Heavy? Your neighborhood may be to blame. Those built before 1950 help keep you skinnier by encouraging walking”