|
walkable.org: faq
<br />Page 2 of 5
<br />traffic in a rush or flight to the suburbs. In most parts of the nation the streets are also green, or
<br />have other pleasant landscaping schemes in dry climates.
<br />6. Streets & trans are we// linked. The town has a good block form, often in a grid or other highly
<br />connected pattern. Although hilly terrain calls for slightly different patterns, the linkages are still
<br />frequent. Some of the newer neighborhoods that were built to cui-de-sac or other fractured
<br />patterns are now being repaired for walking by putting in trail connectors in many places. These
<br />links are well designed so that there are many eyes on these places. Code for new streets no
<br />longer permits long streets that are disconnected.
<br />7. Design is properly scaled to 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 mile radius segments. From most homes it is
<br />possible to get to most services in 1/4 mile (actual walked distance). Neighborhood elementary
<br />schools are within a 1/4 mile walking radius of most homes, while high schools are accessible to
<br />most children (1 mile radius). Most important features (parks) are within 1/8 mile, and a good,
<br />well designed place to wait for a high frequency (10-20 minutes) bus is within 1/4 to 1/2 mile.
<br />Note that most of these details can be seen on a detailed local map.
<br />8. The town is designed for people. Look for clues that decisions are being made for people first, cars
<br />second. Does the town have a lot of open parking lots downtown? Are many streets plagued with
<br />multiple commercial driveways, limited on-street parking, fast turning radii on corners? Towns
<br />designed for people have many investments being made in plazas, parks, and walkways.
<br />Investments in intersections on the far reaches of town are rare. Towns designed for people are
<br />tearing down old, non-historic dwellings and shopping plazas and converting them to compact,
<br />mixed use, mixed income properties. Ask to review the past year of building permits by category.
<br />Much is told about what percentage of construction that is infill and independent small builder
<br />stock versus big builder single price-range housing or retail stock.
<br />9. The town is thinking small. The most walkable towns are boldly stepping forward requiring
<br />maximum parking allowed, versus minimum required. Groceries, and other important stores, are
<br />not permitted to build above a reasonable square footage, must place the foot print of the
<br />structure to the street, etc. Palo Alto, for instance, caps their groceries at 20,000 square feet. This
<br />assures that groceries, drug stores, and other important items are competitive at a size that is
<br />neighborhood friendly. Neighborhood schools are community centers. Older buildings are rebuilt in
<br />place, or converted to modern needs. Most parking is on-street.
<br />10. Fn walkable communities there are many people walking. This sounds like a silly statement at
<br />first...but think again. Often there are places that look walkable, but no one walks. Why? There is
<br />always a reason. Is it crime? Is there is no place to walk to, even though the streets and walkways
<br />are pleasant? Are the downtown stores not open convenient hours? You should be able to see a
<br />great diversity of those walking and bicycling. Some will be very young, some very old. People
<br />with disabilities will be common. Another clue, where people walk in great abundance virtually all
<br />motorists are courteous to pedestrians...hard to believe, but true!
<br />11. The town and the neighborhoods have a vision. Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon and Austin,
<br />Texas are just three examples where neighborhood master plans have been developed. Honolulu
<br />sets aside about $iM of funds per year to be spent by each neighborhood. Visionary master plans
<br />provide direction, build ownership of citizens, engage diverse people, and create opportunities for
<br />implementation. A well thought out master plan gets past sticky issues, and deals with the most
<br />basic, fundamental, necessary decisions and commitments. There are budgets set aside for
<br />neighborhoods, for sidewalks, trails, links, and parks. The community no longer talks about where
<br />they will get the money, but how they will change their priorities.
<br />http://www.walkable.org/fags.html 04/20/2012
<br />
|