Jul 17, 2008 9:38 pm US/Pacific
San Francisco Named Most Walkable City In U.S.
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
A Web site that scores the nation's major cities on how easy it is for pedestrians to walk around has placed San Francisco at the top of the list, but a pedestrian-rights group contends that does not mean it's the most pedestrian-friendly.
San Francisco was named most "walkable," receiving 89 out of 100 points for its pedestrian convenience on
walkscore.com. New York and Boston placed second and third.
The Web site rated the nation's 40 biggest cities by calculating how far residences are from amenities such as schools and grocery stores. The scores are also based on the accessibility of stores, restaurants and other amenities, and how easy it is for errands to be accomplished on foot.
"We think of it as a ranking for the potential to live car-less,'' said Mike Mathieu who is the founder of the company that developed Walk Score.
Mathieu said the rankings are mainly for real estate providers, so buyers can check out the "walkability'' of any neighborhood before they buy.
The rankings did not attribute safety, topography or aesthetics, but he noted crime statistics and topography can already be found on the Internet and Walk Score addresses an issue that is hard to find.
A local pedestrian advocacy group coordinator said if the other factors were included, she would give San Francisco a solid "C.''
Walk San Francisco Project Coordinator Susan King said traffic is severely congested, giving pedestrians a difficult time.
From aggressive drivers to awkward bus stops, she said the city streets are not what she would consider walkable.
"There's still a lot to be done around here to make it a truly 'walkable' city,'' King said. "When you try to balance everyone's needs without a freeway, that's where it gets complicated.''
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
