Fresno: The 19th Most Walkable City -- are your feet happy?
Since it was kinda cool outside last night , my wife and I went for a walk. Until recently, we lived in an apartment near River Park, which didn't motivate us to go for walks too often. The walk in our new neighborhood was a nice little excursion -- we passed neighbors also on walks and kids outside playing.
Why am I telling you this? Going for a walk not as cool as Dancing With A Star? Nay, good Fresnans, you'll be happy to know that at least one Web site dedicated to walkable neighborhoods thinks Fresno is a relatively good place for walkers. We were named the 19th most walkable city in a list released by WalkScore.com.
With a score of 54, we finished one place behind San Jose and Las Vegas (both 55) and a little further behind Portland, Long Beach and the No. 1 city, San Francisco. According to WalkScore's calculations, our Central, Fresno High and Hoover neighborhoods scored the highest.
Most interesting? If you look at WalkScore's Fresno map, its Central designation is the triangle area formed between the Highway 180, 41 and 99 intersections. Yep, Downtown. On its own, it scored an 81, which would have put it between Boston and New York. You go, Downtown Fresno!
The Fresno High area, which was second of the Fresno neighborhoods, covers Ashlan Avenue to Highway 180, north to south. Basically the Tower District and its outskirts. If you're curious about how this all works, check out this explanation.
Oh, and before I walk away, I got four words: Take that, River Park.
Comments:
"I wanna walk with you"...
We made the top 20 of a list that does not involve poverty or poor air? Hooray. Being a resident of Tower/Fresno High I frequently walk from place to place. That is the thing I don't get about River Park...
Parking: Sucks
Walkable: Not at all
Unique: Hardly
Posted by: Travis Sheridan at July 17, 2008 3:00 PM
Sweet!!
Posted by: Abe Lopez at July 17, 2008 3:02 PM
Dude, you lived two blocks away from the walk-appropriate Woodward Park until about 12 days ago, so don't be trying to hate on your old neighborhood.
Posted by: Northside Heather at July 17, 2008 3:03 PM
This list is a sham.
I doubt its authors have spent a single summer day in Fresno. You wanna walk around in the downtown broiler from June to September? Be my guest.
If Fresno is "walkable," it's only because there's no viable public transportation and people are forced to use their own two feet.
Posted by: MJ at July 17, 2008 3:10 PM
i thought river park would be more approachable since it's a bit nicer but to read that downtown, central, and fresno city area is more walk-a-ble...is quite
a twist.
Posted by: dj stylez at July 17, 2008 3:10 PM
From that link some of you obviously didn't click:
"Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc. Walk Score measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle—not how pretty the area is for walking."
Posted by: Mike Oz at July 17, 2008 4:24 PM
One does have to admit that the let up on the oppressive heat (and humidity) to the more normally balmy last night has helped. Yes, I can vouch that the Fresno High/Tower area is delightfully more walkable... and bikeable. Since I live in the area... I do it often... though not often enough.
Posted by: marcel at July 17, 2008 4:25 PM
I love living downtown and have walked to work several times. If not for my odd hours and having to cut through/near Courthouse Park, I'd rarely use my car. I can live, work, grocery shop and go out for drinks all within a single mile radius.
And the heat isn't much worse than any expected for, you kniw, living in the desert..
Posted by: Alana at July 18, 2008 12:56 AM
Its funny that a website is a motivator to get people walking.
I love walking and watching the walkers in my neighborhood.
You can notice the subtle things. LIke the guy that only wears black socks pulled up as high as they can god he is young. He just has old man feet. There are the kids that ran down the street wearing boxes and laughing.
I love walking past my favorite gardens, houses, pets.
Posted by: celena at July 18, 2008 11:48 AM
Post a comment
(read the comment policy before posting)