In urban planning, walkability is the accessibility of amenities by foot. It is based on the idea that urban spaces should be more than just transport corridors designed for maximum vehicle throughput. Instead, it should be relatively complete, livable spaces that serve a variety of uses, users, and transportation modes and reduce the need for cars for travel. In recent years, walkability has become popular because of its health, economic, and environmental benefits. It is an essential concept of sustainable urban design. Factors influencing walkability include the presence or absence and quality of footpaths, sidewalks, or other pedestrian rights-of-way, traffic and road conditions, land use patterns, building accessibility, and safety, among others.
Walkability scores range from 1 - 20, where 20 is the most walkable. Walkability scores are reported at the block group level and aggregated to the city level; city medians are displayed here. Examples of individual block group scoring are as follows:
- Rural Area: 4.2
- Suburban Residential Area: 9.5
- Historic Main Street: 13.7
- City Center/Suburban Town Center: 17.5