The Search for Walkability

I recently bought my first house, and I found the househunting process to be a challenge. Everyone makes their list of must-haves, and at the top of mine was location. No surprise there, but my criteria were different from some. Specifically, I wanted a location that was walkable. Sure, I wanted a neighborhood where I could take my daily walks. But I also wanted an area where I could walk to things: the grocery store, shopping, restaurants. In short, a place where I can get around on foot - and without a car - if I need or want to.

Finding that neighborhood turned out to be harder than I thought. First was the task of communicating to my realtor what I wanted and why. It's not the most typical request, so that took some doing. We looked at several homes in areas with walking trails and greenways. I could walk for miles around the neighborhood, but if I wanted to go to the grocery store, I'd have to cross a 5-lane road or a highway with no crosswalks. I know that other areas of the country are more pedestrian-friendly, but where I live (as in many places), it's a car-centric culture. The only way to get to many places is by automobile.

My desire to walk around town is a foreign concept to many. The good news it's that it's not impossible: I found a house that fits the bill, and I moved in last month. The process, though, was enlightening for me, and it's made me more interested in pedestrian safety and walkability. We have a long way to go around here if we want to be welcoming to walkers. But I think it's ultimately worth it.