Here's a chance to learn about the walking-friendliness of your neighborhood. If you are looking for alternatives to automobile transportation in your everyday life, check this out:
http://www.walkscore.com/index.shtml
This is a google maps "mash-up" using mapping technology and info about your neighborhood to give you a ranking. On a scale of 1-100, anything above 70 is a good neighborhood, 90-100 is excellent.
Here's a picture from a home in beautiful downtown Brunswick. Try it out for yourself at http://www.walkscore.com/index.shtml
From their website:
What makes a neighborhood walkable?
Walkable communities tend to have the following characteristics:
* A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center,
whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.
* Density: The neighborhood is compact, rather than spread out, which
brings people closer to stores and jobs and makes public transportation
more cost effective.
* Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works
in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and
poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.
* Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.
* Accessibility: The neighborhood is accessible to everyone and has
wheelchair access, plenty of benches with shade, sidewalks on all
streets, etc.
* Well connected, speed controlled streets: Streets form a connected
grid that improves traffic by providing many routes to any destination.
Streets are narrow to control speed, and shaded by trees to protect
pedestrians.
* Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street
to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.
* Close schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
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