The Walkability Factor

Once again, Vancouver remains the most walkable city in Canada, according to the number crunchers over at Walk Score. With a walkability rating of 78, we shined well above Toronto and Montreal and the craving for us to live in pedestrian friendly areas is continuously proven with the direction of various housing developments in the Greater Vancouver area.

Walk Score’s founding mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods. Walkable neighborhoods are one of the simplest and best solutions for the environment, our health, and economy. The ranking service is the innovation formulated by ex-Microsoft employees, who were seeking an easy, dependable way to measure how pedestrian friendly an area was. Walk Score determines a city’s walkability by using an algorithm that factor in proximity of coffee shops, schools, parks and grocery stores in different neighbourhoods. The result is a practical gauge of how easy it is to get around on foot, without having to jump into a car or use various forms of public transit.

Many potential home buyers appreciate the walkability of a compact and convenient neighbourhood. Demand for this type of living is particularly robust for empty nesters, but is also quite strong amongst families and singles who value the lifestyle associated with a vibrant walkable community. Homes in areas where services and amenities are close enough to walk definitely appeal to buyers, with many willing to pay a premium.

A quick look at some of our more walkable neighborhoods

www.walkscore.com

You can check the Walk Score rating for any neighbourhood (available for any address in the United States, Canada, and Australia) free via their website and determine your neighbourhood (or future neighbourhood) walking, cycling and public transit scores. Expect to see Walk Score numbers added to various real estate listings, as a guide for eco-conscious buyers. Interestingly, research has indicated that each Walk Score point adds approximately $3,000 to the value of a home.