Walkable Neighborhoods
Picture a walkable neighborhood. You lose weight each time you walk to the grocery store. You stumble home from last call without waiting for a cab. You spend less money on your car - or you don't own a car. When you shop, you support your local economy. You talk to your neighbors.
What makes a neighborhood walkable?
A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.
Density: The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently.
Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.
Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.
Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.
Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
Streets Designed for Everyone
Complete Streets are roads designed for everyone who uses them, including bicyclists, pedestrians of all ages and abilities, and people getting on and off transit vehicles. These streets are:
Accessible: There are wheelchair ramps, plenty of benches with shade, sidewalks on all streets, etc.
Well-connected: Streets form a connected grid that improves traffic by providing many routes to any destination.
Built for the right speed: Lanes are narrow or traffic calming is in place to control speed.
Comfortable: Pedestrian medians at intersections, count-down crosswalk timers, bicycle lanes, protected bus shelters, etc. make the street work better for those outside of a car.
Left image: One-Mile Walk in a Compact Neighborhood
Right image: One-Mile Walk in a Sprawling Suburb
The images above compare the walkability levels in Nashville, Charlotte, San Francisco, New York and Boston with Jacksonville's. Dark green represents maximum walkability and red represents auto dependency.
Walking Oasis in an Unwalkable City
Almost every city has walkable neighborhoods where it's possible to live a car-lite lifestyle. Here are a few examples of Walking Oases in cities with a low Walk Score.
San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida - Walk Score 80
Although Jacksonville is ranked #40 out of 40 with a Walk Score of only 36, San Marco, Jacksonville's second most walkable neighborhood, has a Walk Score of 80.
Based on the Piazza di San Marco in Venice, Italy, San Marco's short blocks and pedestrian-oriented design make it very walkable.
http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/walking-oases.shtml
San Marco Photo Tour: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/587/
Walk Score scorecard:
Walker's Paradise (dark green): 100 - 90
Very Walkable (light green): 89 - 70
Somewhat Walkable (yellow): 69 - 50
Car Dependent (red): 49 - 0
The top 20 walkable neighborhoods in Jacksonville, according to www.walkscore.com
rank, walk score, population, neighborhood name
1. 88 3,373 Downtown Jacksonville
2. 80 2,886 San Marco
3. 71 1,762 Fairfax
4. 71 9,754 Riverside
5. 70 1,200 Southside (Southbank)
6. 70 611 Normandy
7. 68 3,523 Hogans Creek
8. 67 10,392 Murray Hill
9. 66 4,018 Regency
10. 64 6,055 Springfield
11. 62 2,891 Monterey (Arlington-East of University, South of JU)
12. 59 852 Brakridge (Southside Blvd. near Hodges)
13. 59 4,755 Lakewood
14. 58 7,789 Brentwood
15. 58 2,132 Pickwick Park (Mandarin)
16. 58 5,052 Arlington
17. 58 3,889 Arrowhead (Mandarin)
18. 56 4,495 Lakeshore
19. 56 5,825 Avondale
20. 56 5,296 Sans Souci
Walk scores of selected Jacksonville neighborhoods
40. 50 Panama Park
42. 49 Atlantic Beach
55. 46 Neptune Beach
56. 46 Southpoint
63. 45 Cedar Hills
72. 43 Baymeadows
74. 42 San Jose
99. 37 St. Johns Bluff
117. 31 Deerwood
142. 24 Mandarin
151. 21 Julington Creek
178. 7 Pecan Park
Statistical Data:
5% of Jacksonville residents have a Walk Score of 70 or above.
26% have a Walk Score of at least 50.
74% of Jacksonville residents live in Car-Dependent neighborhoods.
See where your specific home address ranks when it comes to walkability: http://www.walkscore.com
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jmccharen
July 24, 2008, 09:16:18 AMThis Walk Score seems to miss something. In my mind, Riverside is one of the only truly walkable areas in Jacksonville, and the sole reason for this is Publix. I can get healthy food and decent produce without a car. Does San Marco have a grocery store that folks can get to as easily? And I don't mean Matthews Market (no offense).
I just met a Health Department rep yesterday and the discussion was about the various ways wealth inequalities make us less healthy. Access to affordable, fresh, and decent food is a huge part of this.
thelakelander
July 24, 2008, 09:29:28 AMThe way it looks, areas located within a few blocks of commercial districts, such as Five Points, Park & King or Edgewood Avenue rank the highest, in terms of walkability.
1661 Riverside ranks pretty high. It comes in at an 89 out of 100. However, walkability becomes more auto-dependent north of the CSX railroad tracks. So it ends up averaging out to 71.
Looking at this, I would assume San Marco's rank is so high because the entire neighborhood is no further than a three or four block walk from a walkable commercial district when you factor in the locations of San Marco Square, Hendricks and San Marco Blvd, in regards to the rest of the neighborhood.
David
July 24, 2008, 09:35:34 AMI've lived in San Marco for 3 years and Riverside for about one. I find myself walking far more in Riverside than I did in San Marco, mainly because of the wider variety of destinations in the area. Publix, the eateries/bars in 5 points, memorial park, Riverside park.
Then again, I didn't utilize the square very often, other than the San Marco theater. San Marco does seem a bit more compact though, has more of an urban feel whereas Riverside has always had the small town feel, even though it covers a considerably larger area.
Jimmy Olsen
July 24, 2008, 01:53:05 PMI agree with you Lakelander, I live on the other side of the tracks and my walk score came out to a 55/100.... not very good.
I went 6 months without a car, I used my bike to go everywhere. Kent Campus, Publix (only once, that was a long ride), Five Points, Murray Hill, Avondale, etc. After BOTH bikes were stolen, I had to walk everywhere or depend on the HORRIBLE bus routes JTA has to offer. And even worse, waiting an hour for a Taxi to show up.
Ok, so I got side tracked there. Yes we are bringing you down LoL.
Bewler
July 24, 2008, 02:27:32 PMI'm surprised Jax beaches didn't score higher, it always seems like theres scores of people along 1st - 3rd and the whole Atlantic shopping area, jogging, biking, or skating. I assume those would all fall under walking
thelakelander
July 24, 2008, 02:35:59 PMThe areas west of 3rd Street, most likely bring the beaches down.
GideonGlib
July 24, 2008, 03:27:54 PMThere are also some very walkable neighborhoods in the bedroom communities of St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs and Fernandina.
Johnny
July 25, 2008, 08:53:30 AMI wonder if there has been a study showing how cities that are walkable have reduced crime in those walkable areas. More eyes on the street, seems obvious... Hello Mayor Payton
downtownparks
July 25, 2008, 09:18:35 AMSpringfield is very walkable too. We have sidewalks on both sides of the street, and aside from the occasional speeding asshole, the traffic isn't crazy. In fact, that was one of the first things we noticed about SPR when we moved in was how much foot traffic there was, at least as compared to our old neighborhood in Arlington.
Abhishek
July 28, 2008, 12:56:05 PMI live at Southside and Deerwood, by the service road. My walk score is 28..yay! Talk about car dependency!
TREE4309
July 28, 2008, 02:01:01 PMI find Ortega to be pretty walker-friendly. The village square still has a bank, drug store and several specialty shops right in the heart of the neighborhood, several water-front parks with walking paths, and Publix, Belk, Chamblin Bookmine, and all the other stores and restaurants at Roosevelt Square Mall can be walked to either over the Hwy 17 bridge or the Ortega River drawbridge (whichboth have walk/bike lanes). Sidewalks along Herschel from San Juan will get you to Eclipse, Harpoon Louie's, Goal Post Deli and The Loop in west Avondale, too!
thelakelander
July 28, 2008, 02:24:16 PM^ The area, north of the Ortega River is what Walkscore calls "Fairfax". Its the third most walkable area of town with a 71, behind Downtown (88) and San Marco (80).
David
July 31, 2008, 12:52:35 AMBewler,
I don't think this study covered Jacksonville Beach. I mean, that's across the ditch and therefore, it's a completely alien universe in which day is night and people walk and ride bikes instead of drive cars everywhere. But in all seriousness, it is a different city technically and this site tend to focus on the events in the urban core, even the new walgreens opening up in springfield!
They do have a cute subcatagories for those in the burbs though!
Lunican
August 02, 2008, 10:14:55 AMGrab a bike helmet on the way out the door to work. Lace up a pair of sneakers to run errands. Put away a set of car keys - and don't touch them for a week.
Believe it or not, it can happen in Jacksonville.
In the midst of the urban rush, Stan and Johanna Soliday enjoy a mostly car-free lifestyle in pedestrian-friendly San Marco.
"We believe that it's better for our health and lowers stress," said Stan Soliday, 54. "We try to park the car for environmental and practical reasons."
Their neighborhood is a hidden gem in a place largely dependent on cars. Jacksonville was ranked as the least "walkable" of the 40 largest U.S. cities by walkscore.com, a Web site gaining popularity with homeowners and real estate agents.
Full Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080208/met_312620877.shtml
MAXX
September 04, 2008, 10:58:55 AMWalkers, cyclist, and fit people UNITE! There are people driving in the school zone twice daily on Cherry Street between Park Street and Oak Street at full speed. The crosswalks are not connected to the sidewalks at this junction. Although it is within the safety net of a school zone, there are no crossing guards. Watch for debris obstructing the crosswalk, standing water, parked cars on the actual crosswalk, and drivers ignorning the posted school zone speed limit. Today I witnessed cars blowing through the stop sign at the bottom of Herschel Street and Cherry Street where people walk their dogs, their children to school, or even the lone cyclist who left their gas sucking SUV in the garage that day, have difficulty accessing the Willow Branch Public Library, West Riverside Elementary School (Public) without being run down by a car. I beg people to slow down during the peak times of school and to watch where they park their cars, so that children can access the somewhat treacherous sidewalk conditions because the streets are no place for children during this time.
My good friend was knocked off his bike one month ago by a driver who did not stop for a stop sign in this area. Although he is back commuting by bike to and from work, nothing has been done to assure the safety of non-motor vehiclist. The driver wasn't even ticketed.
Yesterday, I called the non-emergency JSO and reported the speeders and asked for an officer. Then I contacted the County Council Representative Jim Minion, who oversees this district with a watchful eye and a pure interest in assuring the safety of the children of WRES especially. Then I contacted the Principal Smith of WRES to ask him to assess the danger and add a crossing guard. NOTHING has been done. School has been in for nearly 3 weeks. Florida Statute 235.19(5) is supposed to protect the children on sidewalks, especially on their way to and from school.
I ask all who walk, ride or just simply have respect for pedestrians to see this for yourself. Please go and take pictures, call the non-emergency, ask the Principal Smith for crossing guards. I cannot do this alone and the price of even one child's life is too high.
Sincerly,
Renee Reed
blizz01
July 08, 2009, 08:54:34 PMI guess it's that time again for Walkscore.com - I'm still trying to determine if this is actually an improvement from last year
Jacksonville Business Journal
Jacksonville is the least walkable city in the nation, according to a Web site that measures walkability.
Walkscore.com ranked the largest 40 cities in the nation on a scale of zero to 100 based on how easy it is to live a “car-lite” lifestyle. Jacksonville, at number 40, had the lowest ranking on the list with a score of 36. According to the Web site cities that scored between 25-49 were car-dependent with only a few destinations within easy walking distance.
The few walkable neighborhoods in Jacksonville, according to the Web site, are Downtown, San Marco and Fairfax.
San Francisco ranked No. 1 on the list with a score of 86, followed by New York at No. 2, Boston at No. 3, Chicago at No. 4 and Philadelphia at No. 5. The four cities ranking at the bottom just above Jacksonville were Oklahoma City at No. 36, Indianapolis at No. 37, Charlotte at No. 38 and Nashville at No. 39.
Jacksonville was the only Florida city on the list. The state with the most cities on the list was California, with a total of eight.
tufsu1
July 08, 2009, 09:54:53 PMjust remember that this list is only the 40 largest cities...so Miami, Orlando, and Tampa aren't even on it.
reednavy
July 08, 2009, 10:03:48 PMAlso, if you notice 3 of the lowest ranked have Metro governments. OKC is spread over 4 counties and has enormous annexation to thank. Charlotte is spread out quite well too, they're almost a metro government with Mecklenberg County as well.
lindab
July 09, 2009, 08:14:10 AMRankings aside, how walkable do you consider Jacksonville to be? Can you compare it to other places you have lived or visited?
rjp2008
July 09, 2009, 09:53:14 AMRiverside and the downtown area near the landing are the most walkable, with San Marco coming in just behind them at third imho.
But Jax is what it is - cars first predominantly.
fsu813
July 09, 2009, 10:11:08 AMRiverside & Avondale are the most walkable b/c of the pockets of cafes, botiques, and restaurants.....
1) 5 Points
2) Park & King area
3) Shoppes of Avondale
4) area where Herschel & St. Johns meet
&
1) College & Stockton
2) Barr & Riverside Ave
are soon to follow.....
TPC
July 09, 2009, 11:20:27 AMI live in Avondale and ride my bike quite a bit, and one thing I've noticed is how FEW people walk or ride bikes around Avondale/Riverside. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of people who walk or bike from there home to the little shopping areas around the area, but I would expect more.
Compared to the beaches I think they have a bigger bicycle community. It just seems that whenever I'm at the beach I see more bikes then I do around Riverside.