Least Walkable Cities

When Walk Score recently released their ranking of the ten most walkable U.S. cities there was no doubt that folks in places like San Francisco, Boston and New York City could look with satisfaction upon their city as a paradise for bipedalism. But when we took a look at the rankings it became clear that there was quite a spread between some of the most and least friendly areas for walking in which to live. In fact, it's not so improbable to imagine that some citizens of major U.S. cities often feel like the person pictured here when compared to their counterparts in those where walking is a way of life.

But the question is, does your city make the list of our least walkable U.S. cities?

Following is the list, created by Walk Score, of the least walkable major cities in the U.S.

Top 10 Least Walkable U.S. Cities

1. Jacksonville
2. Nashville
3. Charlotte
4. Indianapolis
5. Oklahoma City
6. Memphis
7. Kansas City
8. Fort Worth
9. El Paso
10. Mesa

via: Walk Score

More on Walkable U.S. Cities
Walk Score Ranks Top 10 Most Walkable U.S. Cities
Walk Score: Cool Green Google Map Mashup

Comments

[Blurp]

All in the South, too (I'm from the South so I can say that). What is the thing with no sidewalks in these burgeoning Bible Belt locales? Because the people who make the laws there are thinking, "We don't need no sidewalks.­.. we gonna be in Glory soon enough!"

[the964kid]

The person 'walking' their dog may be the most budget person in all of america.

[Brainspore]

I used to think L.A. was a bad city for walking because of the terrible public transit, but after visiting Jacksonville I learned what "least walkable" really meant. At least L.A. has sidewalks; in Jacksonville going anywhere by foot likely means becoming a stain on the pavement.

[Xysea]

I blogged about this recently (see profile for blog site address).

Recently, I had car trouble. I tried to take the bus. Unfortunately, our buses don't extend to the outlying areas of town. We have next to know mass transit infrastructure and our roads are more vehicle than cyclist friendly.

We need to fix this now.

[zull2]

The biggest problem with their rankings is they base it all too much on urban planning and not enough on whether or not it's worthwhile even walking...­ie, can you breathe the air without getting yourself sick? Some of those cities on the most walkable really don't smell all that great, which is part of the reason people drive anyway. Of course on the least walkable, because it does require driving to get around, they just keep spiraling downward because they're caught in a catch-22 situation there.

[nastyvirus]

Not to mention the fact that if you walk, and you look like you can be broken in half, you will be assaulted by the welcoming committee.