dunedin is walkable, though
After hearing how miserable Tampa Bay is for walking, we get this from Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater:
Charming Florida Town Named America ’s “Most Walkable”
Dunedin’s Top Ranking Debunks Brookings Institution Study
The Pinellas County town of Dunedin was voted America ’s “Most Walkable Small City” on Dec. 7, the result of a survey sponsored by RunThePlanet.com, an influential runner’s Web site based in Seattle, Washington.
The city’s abundant sunshine, mild year-round climate, pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares and compact downtown area landed it the top spot in the survey’s “Small Community” category. Boulder, Colorado and Washington, DC were voted the country’s most walkable medium and large cities, respectively.
“We’re excited to receive official recognition of what we have known all along,” said Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth, whose tree-lined, 108-year-old municipality near the Gulf of Mexico is internationally famous for its Scottish heritage and links to the PGA Tour. “This is an immensely walkable and liveable city, and we’re proud to be at the top of the list of America ’s best,” he added.
Frank Roy, co-owner of Meranova Guest Inn in downtown Dunedin, says the town’s walkability is a hit with visitors, too.
“Our guests are often surprised that they can walk everywhere they need to go, whether it’s for shopping, nightclubbing, or five-star dining,” he said, adding that the town’s pedestrian-friendly nature is advantageous for local restaurateurs as well.
The survey’s results came in stark contrast to a study released earlier in the week by the Washington, DC-based Brookings Institution, which ranked the Tampa Bay Area last in “walkability” among America ’s top 30 metropolitan areas. That study used mass transit figures and demographic statistics to support its conclusions, whereas the RunThePlanet.com ranking relied on a survey of visitors who had actually visited - and walked - cities and towns across America.
“That the Brookings study relied on statistical analysis rather than actual experience of visitors shows how raw data can be misleading,” said DT Minich, executive director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.
“There’s much more to the St. Pete/Clearwater area than any spreadsheet could ever convey, and we’re pleased that Dunedin was voted number one by people who actually know it,” he added.
Links: Brookings Institute - Walkable Urban Places, Run The Planet - America’s Most Walkable Cities
Tags: bragging rights, dunedin, pedestrian friendly, ranks, walk
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December 10th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Today’s Tribune editorial responds that Tampa has plenty of places to walk—like Busch Gardens, Bayshore Boulevard, the beaches and the old Gandy Bridge. They say “pedestrians rule” in all our indoor shopping malls and inside our airport. As if shopping malls and zoos are what make a city walkable. Sure it’s great to take a long walk on the beach, or on the Bayshore (or in the airport?!) but none of that can move Tampa up from last place in the list of “walkable urban places.”
Ybor City should count for something, though. And maybe Davis Island’s mini-shopping district, which the Trib also mentioned.
Dunedin IS walkable. And Gulfport is getting there.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
The fact that one tiny portion of one town (most of Dunedin is an unwalkable sprawl identical to the rest of the florida splurbs) is vaguely human-scaled in no way debunks the national study. One of the logical fallacies you employ is that of an inconsequentially small (formally- “biased”)sample. (one area of one town is walkable, so Tampa Bay is walkable, so the study is debunked. Right.) The next logical fallacy is that of Appeal to Authority, as if the pronouncement of a mayor makes it so. Or that of a co-owner of a tourist-dependant institution.
It might be possible to “debunk” the quoted report, bu you have in no way contributed to that effort with this piece.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Tampa Tribune Editorial online comment:
“Ah yes, The Tampa Tribune, buttresses for the dysfunctional status quo to the (its) end.
Instead of denying what experts say that is not favorable about our area, why can’t we for once admit we have a problem (like in AA), and that we have to do a whole heck of a lot better.
Sure there are neighborhoods in Tampa Bay where you can walk around, that’s not the point, the study is talking about “connectivity” (think “big picture” here folks) and transportation options–you know–cars (electric, hybrid, fossil fuel), busses, trolleys, light and high speed rail, bikes, Segways, walking,…..
Let’s not, for once, let ourselves off the hook.”
December 10th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Ybor WAS walkable til they reopened 7th Ave to vehicles on Fri/Sat nites. Now it’s in dire straits again. Coincidence? (Dunedin is great, just wish it was closer.)
December 10th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
I thought this site was pretty neat, for getting a ‘walk score’ for any address:
http://www.walkscore.com/
It uses google maps + business directory
December 10th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
when I was 25 and single, the thought of living in a Channelside condo was appealing, though unaffordable. Now that I am 30, married with kids, why would I spend $350k for an 800 square foot condo downtown, when I can spend less for a house and yard in the suburbs?
December 10th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Chris, don’t worry, when the kids have gone off to college you’ll both want the urban condo again.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
My walk score is 22… I was rather upset with it. And I was surprised to know that there is another score called drive score to evaluate my house. I found the way to calculate it online at Fizber site (http://drivescore.fizber.com/). I’ve got much better results – 44.