Walkability and Livability Throughout the Mile High City
Residents of the Mile High City, city leaders, public health agencies, and people all over the country are becoming more aware of how much time they spend in their vehicles.
Think about your daily commute – are you in the car for 30 minutes, one hour, or longer?
Imagine living in a public space where you could access affordable houses and your workplace was within walking distance!
On top of these factors have sparked civic engagement calling for walkable neighborhoods and public spaces to avoid the continued spread of fossil fuels and carbon emissions – which are slowly contributing to things like poor air quality and climate change.
There are plenty of other factors that are currently turning heads in Colorado. Denver communities call for more walkable urban design for cities and smaller neighborhoods in the metro area.
Many towns are taking a closer look at their current infrastructure and how the world is pushing towards a quick walk or bike ride to schools, slower speed limits on the streets, bike lanes, and even certain sidewalks solely meant for pedestrian design.
Not all the neighborhoods of Denver are catching on.
If you are conscious of these things and want to have the ability to walk down the street without having to worry about a car rushing by you at 40 MPH, better access to public transit, and an environment that is centered around uplifting the community’s environment – then check out these cities and what they have been doing to make history and develop truly walkable neighborhoods!
Denver Remains the Most Walkable Cities in Colorado
The lovely city of Denver has transformed what it means to live within walking distance of your favorite retail stores, services, and amenities.
The Mile High City believes streets are much more than a simple roadway for maximum vehicle throughput.
They should have mixed-use, bus lanes for public transit, bike lanes, and separate sidewalk areas for pedestrians.
Regardless of socioeconomic factors, there are loads of Denverites living with a mixed-income, residing in different housing types, and coming from various walks of life – yet they come together to create a city that is enjoyed due to its level of walkability!
Exploring How Urban Planning Develops a Walkable Neighborhood
Denver has been dedicated to providing the many neighborhoods across the city with mixed-use roadways and plenty of sidewalks.
Because they have placed walkability as a central priority for the city, children can still walk to school or utilize public transit, young adults can bike to their university, and adults can do the same for the workplace even with the highest population density in the state.
They have earned a walk score of 61, a transit score of 45, and a biking score of 72 – the highest in the great Centennial State.
Hop the light rail to walk through Denver Botanic Gardens, discover the wonders of Meow Wolf, and catch a show at Denver Performing Arts Center without worrying about getting in your vehicle.
Enjoy the beautiful parks and open spaces throughout the city and continue to develop your own community and inner circle of relationships because you reside in a walkable and livable neighborhood.
Englewood is Winning in Pedestrian Design
Englewood is another walkable neighborhood and a suburb of Denver, boasting more affordable housing than the city, making space for a mixed-income community.
They have a solid infrastructure and are still planning on moving forward in the development of safer streets and easier access to services, schools, and public transit stations.
Being a suburban neighborhood, the streets are meant for cars, but there are plenty of places where bike lanes have been developed, smaller sectors of the community where retail businesses and restaurants are accessible, and even events at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater that you can reach without having to hop in your car.
A Public Space with Urban Form
This area has become an environment under construction.
With new housing and buildings popping up nearly every day, more and more public transportation modes becoming available to residents, and loads of amenities available to those who have rooted their lives in Englewood.
The world of reality that you choose to live in has to be fully dedicated to continuously evolving, growing, and changing.
Making a walkable neighborhood means getting with the program, switching up the maps, and taking directions from places where things work.
Public Transit is Scoring High, Too
Initially, Arizona was leading in terms of walkability, and to a degree, everyone who came after followed the same planning they had put in place.
Englewood has a walk score of 61 to match Denver.
Even though the city seems a bit more spread out, it also has a transit score of 39 and a biking score of 62.
These numbers have continued to rise when the light rail began running out past the Englewood and the Lone Tree area.
You will now see a bus stop on every corner leading to the local park-and-ride, which can take you nearly anywhere you need to go!
Boulder’s Beautiful Walkable Neighborhoods
With civic engagement and communities coming together, you can combat the use of fossil fuels and limit your carbon footprint in Colorado.
Boulder, like Denver, is fully dedicated to an urban design that supports its citizen’s ability to walk to work, schools, services, amenities, and other businesses.
Being a college town, students must make their way through the sidewalk, public trail systems, and streets daily to get an education at the University of Colorado Boulder!
Having the proper infrastructure to support this environment is vital to maintaining walkability and developing better maps and ideas that will boost your public space.
Decreasing Walking Distance for Residents in the West
While it is not always realistic to decrease your walking distance between spaces if you are clever with urban design and have professionals with public health on your side – designing cities with easy access to parks, places like the Pearl Street Mall, restaurants, and retail businesses can be done.
Placing a sidewalk under roadways, bridge systems, and developing city trail systems between buildings and nature makes walking from point A to B easy, precisely what the city of Boulder did!
Population Density Signals the Community for Change
Boulder is another densely populated area, and it is filled with a population that has been pushing to place money toward a community with access to a healthy, walkable environment.
When you have many people pushing for changes, it is difficult not to listen because these are the same people that make up our cities and communities.
That is why Boulder has places like Pearl Street, which are strictly prohibited to vehicles, alongside many trails and walkways throughout the rest of the city!
Boulder’s walkability score sits at 56, transit at 47, and biking at an all-time high, surpassing Denver at 86.
Northglenn are City Leaders in Affordable Housing and Walkable Communities
One of the up-and-coming cities within the Denver area, Northglenn, has also made walkability the center priority of its urban design!
The city has focused on the current, future, and long-term development of how its residents can access main street areas, walk to school or work, and bike through their neighborhoods.
The current program, Connect Northglenn, is moving forward with walking and biking as the main modes of transportation!
Urban Design for the Future
When sustainable urban design and walkability are the central focus of communities and businesses, you are guaranteed accessible connections throughout the city.
In Northglenn, you can walk to parks like E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park, head to local events, and live your life out loud – without having to get in your car carting your family around.
Economic Development is On the Rise Here
Connecting communities does not occur overnight.
It takes a sense of determination towards progressive urban design and a thriving economy.
Northglenn is currently considered an up-and-coming neighborhood in the Denver area.
Still, with the Connect program improving biking and general walkability, they have transformed what a street can be used for and upgraded their walking score to 47, transit at 35, and biking at a whopping 56!
Wheat Ridge is Winning a New Walk Score
Last but not least, we move to Wheat Ridge and how walkability has become a center priority with their master plans pushing towards continual development of the neighborhood street systems and bike paths!
Wheat Ridge is known as the carnation city of Colorado. Its beauty and wonder have enticed many new residents over the past few years.
With the population steady on the rise, city officials are moving as quickly as possible to change how they approach walkability in their community.
Multiple Transportation Modes Help to Improve Walkability
Wheat Ridge is moving towards comfortable and secure transit options for every street in the city.
They have recently imposed additional bike lanes and open spaces like Discovery Park.
They have continued to zone in on safer intersections on significant streets like Wadsworth, Kipling, and the Main Street area.
By offering residents options to bike, scooter, run, walk, or skateboard through their streets, they can access easy connections, healthy living, and general necessities from grocery and retail businesses and events!
Enjoy the Sidewalks & Local Amenities
38th Avenue, or Main Street, is one of Wheat Ridge’s major attractions.
With local gatherings, markets, a mix of shops, restaurants, and the green belt – you may already be on the internet searching for the best moving companies in the metro area because this town is on the rise!
Wheat Ridge currently scores 45 for walkability, 33 in transit, and 61 for biking!
The Perks of Walkable Neighborhoods for Your Neighborhood
Living in walkable neighborhoods can completely transform how you live your daily life.
The higher the walk score, the easier it is for you to find a home that offers easy access to school, shopping, medical facilities, and work, so call on local movers near me to get you to your new place!
There are a plethora of benefits to walkable cities:
- Everything you need to do becomes convenient. Whether you need to run to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription or are dashing over to a friend’s house for a visit!
- It is easier to develop and maintain close connections with neighbors and other people outside the neighborhood.
- You can live a healthy and more active lifestyle, which is proven to increase average lifespan and even general feelings of happiness.
- You are guaranteed to save your bank account from spending on gas, parking, and other general transportation costs.
- Walkable neighborhoods contribute to a more eco-friendly lifestyle, and remaining environmentally conscious in 2023 and the future is becoming an urgent necessity!
Contact Your Local Moving Experts for Transportation to Your Next Home
Eden’s Moving Services, AKA Denver’s moving experts, wants to get all our customers to walkable neighborhoods – a lifestyle that contributes to a healthier mind, body, and spirit.
Eden’s moving and packers are dedicated to serving the people in the Denver area with elite local moving solutions, professional packing services, and secure storage options.
Are you interested in gaining free moving quotes?
Contact Eden’s for all your moving, packing, and storage needs!
