Watercooler Wednesday-WalkScore

HERE are the guidelines. PLEASE take time to read them.  

It will save us both a lot of time.

To join us, do a post today about Arts/Culture, put a link in your post to this post permalink (not my general URL) and then put the permalink of your post (not your general URL) here at the end of this post. Thanks.

Join me around the watercooler today and each Wednesday...

WalkScore - Why Walking Matters

With gas prices soaring out of control as oil companies continue to make billions in profits, this website caught my attention. Go HERE to enter your address and get your "walkable score". It is fast and informative. My address scores an 80. Nice!

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.    

Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood. Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15 - 45.

Reduction in pollution: Cars are a leading cause of pollution. Your feet are zero pollution transportation machines.       

More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car!

Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for each 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10 percent.       

Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It's easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive between destinations.

It Adds Up - I walk 90% of the time now. I put an average of 10,000 fewer miles on my vehicle annually, and @15 miles per gallon in my Jeep Wrangler, that equals $2,400 in savings per year in fuel costs alone, not taking into account depreciation, maintenance and other costs.

What does your address score? Let me know your city and score HERE.