Despite seismic shifts in development trends, it's no real surprise that Atlanta, as a whole, basically fails the 2014 Walk Score ranking of "Most Walkable U.S. Cities & Neighborhoods." Out of a possible 100 points, Atlanta notches a dismal 46 for walkability, which means "most errands require a car," according the ranking Walk Score released today. The "Bike Score" of 43 was even worse, a level that signifies a "somewhat bikeable" city with "minimal bike infrastructure," the study found. But there are bright spots, and most of them involve burgeoning neighborhoods near the city's core.
To their credit, Walk Score acknowledges that Atlanta's a relatively new place where condensed development and sensible street grids have traditionally carried little weight. "Atlanta has grand old manor homes, up and coming neighborhoods, and top notch tourist attractions ?" they write. "There's a modern downtown, but Atlanta has lots of treelined streets that make for attractive neighborhoods, especially when those Georgia peach trees are flowering." Ah, ain't that sweet.
The most complimentary bit could be this: "Many of Atlanta's neighborhoods have that 'small town in a big city' vibe that makes it a pleasant place to live, even if you have to commute." That's backed up by an Atlanta Top 10 ranking that shows an eclectic mix of neighborhoods scoring pretty well, though none rank in the 90 range. More data on their methodology can be found here, and the Top 20 is listed below.
· Living in Atlanta [Walkscore]
· The Best Places In Atlanta For A Semi-Walkable Lifestyle [Curbed]
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