Watch out Walk Score, you've got some competition. Mapping company Maponics is measuring pedestrian-friendliness with a new tool called 'Walkability'. They measure several factors Walk Score doesn't, including crime, street type, and speed limit.
"With its newest tool, Maponics measures walkability in three categories: overall walkability, proximity to amenities (i.e. shopping centers, dry cleaners), and proximity to leisure (i.e. social and cultural options)," explains Ariel Schwartz. "When considering walkability, the company runs simulations through the road network to figure out how walkers get where they want to go. 'It's not just a matter of measuring proximity. It's accessibility. Can you get to places, or do you need to cross highway?' says [CEO Darrin] Clement. 'It's no good if there are multiple complex intersections.'"
"This isn't a consumer-facing tool," notes Schwartz, "but you might have access to it through other services. The tool is geared in particular towards the real estate space, where perceptions about modes of transportation and access to amenities affects where people want to live as well as home prices."
FULL STORY: How Walkable Is Your Neighborhood? This Mapping Data Juggernaut Now Knows
Is Your City One of America's Most Walkable?
Walk Score has released its 2014 ranking of Most Walkable U.S. Cities and Neighborhoods. Though New York's position at the top of the list would be easy to explain, one surprise made the top five.
More Evidence for a Link Between Transit and Home Values
Judging from a statistical analysis by Redfin, there is in fact a positive correlation between home values and transit access. But that only applies in areas where transit and walking are already common modes.
New York Continues to Dominate the Walk Score Rankings
It's almost as if every city not named New York is competing for second place when Walk Score releases its annual ranking of most walkable cities. Of course, the top ten is quite an accomplishment: so welcome to the club, Long Beach, California.
Georgia's First Tiny Home Village Now Open, and Sold Out
Eight single-family houses on a half-acre of land.
The Most Complete Map of U.S. Pedestrian Risk Yet
New research published by the Journal of Transport and Land Use analyzes tens of thousands of pedestrian fatalities over 16 years in the United States.
Arizona's Tallest Building Will Soon Be Vacant
The tallest building in the Grand Canyon State will enter a new era.
Bikes Make Life Better
Urban Insight
Springettsbury Township
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard University Graduate School of Design - Executive Education
Jefferson County
City of Greensburg
City of Flagstaff
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
