RedScare Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 What are you talking about? I've walked up and down the steepest hills in SF and enjoyed the walk. Why is that "impossible"?The same reason that walking in Houston's heat and humidity is "impossible". It is not, but some love to overstate things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moni Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Cable cars are more tourist attractions than anything (or so I have heard), and they are good if you need to get across town fast, but they aren't there because walking is impossible. Powell Street is lined with restaurants, hotels, cafes, and retail, and I saw lots of people walking. Most of the people riding the cable car I was in were going across town, not just using it because the hill was too steep. I walked to the top of the hill on Powell Street myself and it wasn't so bad. The steepest hill I saw near Mission Dolores Park (where there are no cable cars) and it was damn steep. Didn't stop me from walking to the top of it though. The view was amazing up there.One thing I noticed in SF was that some parts of town had the widest sidewalks I had ever seen. Wider than anywhere I've been in Toronto or Montreal or NYC.Well Jax, I know you enjoyed your SF trip and you have wonderful pictures to show for it. I guess I just look at it entirely differently because I have spent a lot of time there. My daughter has several businesses in the Bay Area. As a first time tourist, I can see where climbing a hill for the spectacular views would be appealing and I agree the views are really great. But to each his own, and the truth is, I just don't like SF. I don't like the people and I don't enjoy climbing hills. Maybe if it was all new to me I would feel differently, but I have been there and done that. However, to each his own and of course, I know many people love SF, I just don't happen to be one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webdude Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Well Jax, I know you enjoyed your SF trip and you have wonderful pictures to show for it. I guess I just look at it entirely differently because I have spent a lot of time there. My daughter has several businesses in the Bay Area. As a first time tourist, I can see where climbing a hill for the spectacular views would be appealing and I agree the views are really great. But to each his own, and the truth is, I just don't like SF. I don't like the people and I don't enjoy climbing hills. Maybe if it was all new to me I would feel differently, but I have been there and done that. However, to each his own and of course, I know many people love SF, I just don't happen to be one of them.It is possible to dislike something that everybody else thinks is nice, but disliking it doesn't make it not walkable though. SF is small but not that small where every part is hilly. I think I can understand not wanting to climb hills, some parts are steep, but many parts are not hilly, and the street atmosphere is on every corner. It is really dirty in some parts though, but like Jax said, the sidewalks are large enough, that you can avoid the dirt. I don't like the pandering, but I don't understand how you can don't like all the ppl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moni Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 It is possible to dislike something that everybody else thinks is nice, but disliking it doesn't make it not walkable though. SF is small but not that small where every part is hilly. I think I can understand not wanting to climb hills, some parts are steep, but many parts are not hilly, and the street atmosphere is on every corner. It is really dirty in some parts though, but like Jax said, the sidewalks are large enough, that you can avoid the dirt. I don't like the pandering, but I don't understand how you can don't like all the ppl.I mean the people who get in your face, the druggies and drunks who appear to be "homeless". I know there are some truly homeless people in that city, but most are just degenerates and the city doesn't even try to clean it up. I don't like the tolerance for graffiti either. It is cold and foggy much of the time and I don't like that either. A great many people in southern California have no use for SF, it isn't just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 It doesn't look like these people are letting the hills stop them from walking. Or these people. Or these... I can understand if you don't like walking, but saying SF is not walkable is completely untrue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I bet they have nice legs and butts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webdude Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I bet they have nice legs and butts.LOL. You can actually compare them with the ppl in houston photos and see the difference in body shape and size.I got to say Jax takes nice pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 LOL. You can actually compare them with the ppl in houston photos and see the difference in body shape and size.I got to say Jax takes nice pictures.Well, I know I have picked up weight being back here in Houston. It could be attributed to a lot of things but a more sedentary lifestyle is probably the main reason. When I lived in Baltimore my 'workout' was walking to and from work. Sure I hit the YMCA in Bolton Hill too, but it was not a necessity as it is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Well, I know I have picked up weight being back here in Houston. It could be attributed to a lot of things but a more sedentary lifestyle is probably the main reason. When I lived in Baltimore my 'workout' was walking to and from work. Sure I hit the YMCA in Bolton Hill too, but it was not a necessity as it is here.Yeah, I know I lost some weight when I started walking to work. Truly walkable areas let you incorporate walking as part of the daily routine, not little walkable showplace enclaves like Sugar Land town square. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Yeah, I know I lost some weight when I started walking to work. Truly walkable areas let you incorporate walking as part of the daily routine, not little walkable showplace enclaves like Sugar Land town square.Yeah, I would walk to work and to the park ... it was truly a part of my daily activities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porchman Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 The newest rankings out today:http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/most-walkable-cities.phpWe're 26! We're 26! Woohoo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I had forgotten about the walkscore site...my most recent move put me from a 51 to a 77. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citizen4rmptown Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 7252, just a block shy of the North Pasadena Wal-mart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 The map is even more fun.I don't get the part about River Oaks being so walkable. According to the ranking you can live there without owning a car. Umm... I don't think so. Sure, it's very easy to walk around River Oaks, but where are you going to walk to? I don't think anyone is going to hoof it from the West Gray Kroger to Willowick. This feels like one of those "most livable city" surveys that are only designed to rotate certain cities through a list in order to get magazine readers/web site visitors.It should also be noted that one of the factors that goes into this walkability score is the ability to walk to a neighborhood bookstore, which is nice. Until you realize that pornography stores are counted as neighborhood bookstores.Another flaw: In some cities the airport is counted as a separate neighborhood, and typically ranks low for walkability. Well, duh! It's an airport, not a neighborhood. Nobody lives there. So having airports counts against a city in this survey.(That said, where I live is a 97 on the scale) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skwatra Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 92 for me. though they have an HEB on Mason Rd and West Gray. i do walk/bike that way a lot and have yet to see the HEB. a grocery store probably holds some weight, and the kroger is too far to walk (with lots of groceries), so my score is probably lower. though when the new Whole Foods opens i can call it a wash. btw, i'm a proud new condo owner, columbus flats near west gray and montrose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 It should also be noted that one of the factors that goes into this walkability score is the ability to walk to a neighborhood bookstore, which is nice. Until you realize that pornography stores are counted as neighborhood bookstores.Another flawwhy is this a flaw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 why is this a flaw?In most cities pornography stores are zoned into industrial tracts so it artificially raises the walkability rating of an area where few or no people live, which is what this survey is intended to measure -- the walkability of a place by people. Similar to how the airport shouldn't be counted -- nobody lives there, so it's not germane to the intent of the survey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tierwestah Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 The newest rankings out today:http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/most-walkable-cities.phpWe're 26! We're 26! Woohoo!Maybe i'm missing something. How the heck is that good considering we were 21 before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 In most cities pornography stores are zoned into industrial tracts so it artificially raises the walkability rating of an area where few or no people live, which is what this survey is intended to measure -- the walkability of a place by people.that's what makes us more unique. in this instance it should be applicable. a larger problem with the website appears to be old data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Maybe i'm missing something. How the heck is that good considering we were 21 before?The 21 ranking was from a Brookings Institution survey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeats Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 God, these "walkability" scores and studies just annoy the piss out of me. Houston ain't walkable. No way, no how. Maybe a few select neighborhoods are somewhat walkable, but the city as a whole is NOT. Enough already, Brookings Institution, et al! Here's something I find hilarious when I compute my "Walk Score." Of the places listed to walk to (only one per category!), almost none of them are quite what they seem. Examples: Bookstore: the 24-hour adult bookstore and head shop down by the freeway. School: the Comedy Defensive Driving place next door. Grocery Store: Sunny's nasty, rundown convenience store that primarily stocks Miller High Life and Swisher Sweets. Hardware Store: a Home Depot that someone on foot would have absolutely NO WAY of getting to without being hit by a car, since you have to cross both I-10 and Beltway 8 to get there. Movie Theatre: the SAME adult bookstore from above. Clothing & Music: Public Storage. ?!?!?!?!? Give me a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Bookstore: the 24-hour adult bookstore and head shop down by the freeway.School: the Comedy Defensive Driving place next door. Grocery Store: Sunny's nasty, rundown convenience store that primarily stocks Miller High Life and Swisher Sweets. Hardware Store: a Home Depot that someone on foot would have absolutely NO WAY of getting to without being hit by a car, since you have to cross both I-10 and Beltway 8 to get there. Movie Theatre: the SAME adult bookstore from above. Clothing & Music: Public Storage. ?!?!?!?!? Give me a break. Geez, Ms. Picky! Yeah - for schools, something near me is listed as "Tomball ISD" which shares the same street name, but in TOMBALL oopsies At least I get "Diner's News" as a bookstore...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rammer Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I'm really surprised Houston outranked Dallas. I thought Dallas would be higher than Houston since they have more rail and more urban villages.I agree with you C2H, Dallas should be higher than Houston.The Trinity Railway Express, which runs between Fort Worth & Dallas, is fantastic!http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moni Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Oh for god's sake.. Exactly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Here's something I find hilarious when I compute my "Walk Score." Of the places listed to walk to (only one per category!), almost none of them are quite what they seem. Examples:Bookstore: the 24-hour adult bookstore and head shop down by the freeway. School: the Comedy Defensive Driving place next door. Grocery Store: Sunny's nasty, rundown convenience store that primarily stocks Miller High Life and Swisher Sweets. Hardware Store: a Home Depot that someone on foot would have absolutely NO WAY of getting to without being hit by a car, since you have to cross both I-10 and Beltway 8 to get there. Movie Theatre: the SAME adult bookstore from above. Clothing & Music: Public Storage. ?!?!?!?!? Give me a break. Not all inner-city Houston is "walkable" apparently...we get a score of 38 at our house. I get humorous listings similar to sheeats: Grocery: Grocers Supply Co. Restaurants: Kitchen Equipment Fabricating, Inc. Bookstore: the Half Price Books warehouse on the South Loop Drugstore: Sigma Pharmacy Services (a pharmaceuticals company) Hardware: Underground Auto Storage & Paint Funny thing about our walkability score is that I see more pedestrians in my neighborhood than I do anywhere else in Houston but downtown! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 It suggested that the fitness center inside of an Archstone apartment complex was contributing to my walkability score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 God, these "walkability" scores and studies just annoy the piss out of me. Houston ain't walkable. No way, no how. Maybe a few select neighborhoods are somewhat walkable, but the city as a whole is NOT. And I agree; can't understand why I stay in Houston...except... Forbes tells me I'm OK... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Yeah, I know I lost some weight when I started walking to work. Truly walkable areas let you incorporate walking as part of the daily routine, not little walkable showplace enclaves like Sugar Land town square.But it's better to at least have these little artificial havens than nothing at all right? I think they more than serve their purpose for the select few that get to live in the lofts above the retail. Also, since you used Sugar Land as an example, My wife and I really want to buy just southwest of the Town Center, so that we can ride our bikes there. I think that should count for something*. Perhaps a "A" for effort (of creating something pedestrian friendly) and then a "C-" for delivery?*After re-reading this it sounds like I'm wanting acknowledgment for wanting to live someplace where it is feasible to ride a bike and/or walk to most amenities - which is not the case! I'm seeking acknowledgement that this area can foster some pedestrian oriented traffic, even if it was built-up artificially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 God, these "walkability" scores and studies just annoy the piss out of me. Houston ain't walkable. No way, no how. Maybe a few select neighborhoods are somewhat walkable, but the city as a whole is NOT. Enough already, Brookings Institution, et al!Give me a break. Enough already, sheeats. NO CITY as a whole is entirely walkable! If that's the standard, then no city is walkable. No way, no how. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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