Walkability Trumps Square Footage

Some dear friends recently gifted me with a fit bit, which is a fancy pedometer. The process of tracking how many steps I take (goal is 10,000 daily steps) is surprisingly energizing. Walking in this city (and Marin's towns and parks) is so entertaining, and so much less stressful then driving. Plus I can eat freely in this place of unlimited good food choices. Even when I have to drive for work, I find myself enjoying parking a little further from my destination, so I'll rack up a few more steps. Ridiculous I know, but so invigorating. So today we revisit walkability. 

SustainableCitiesNetsustainablecitiesnet

The National Association of Realtors Community Preference Survey concluded that most Americans now prefer a walkable neighborhood to a large house.  People are willing to pay more  for a location that allows them to walk or bike rather then drive everywhere.  San Francisco has recently been declared the "most walkable" city in the U.S.  Marin is pretty wonderful for walking too, and hiking.  

SFStreetBlog.org

P.S. Tomorrow is Sunday Streets in the Mission District, "a cost-effective way to improve the health of San Franciscans," as Mayor Ed Lee put it.  Plus way fun.

SFStreetsblog.org

Sunday Streets and Getting Around the Golden Gate

While I love being a Realtor for so many reasons, holding Sunday open houses has sure limited my Sunday Streets participation. By the time I change out of Realtor garb and get on my bike, things are usually pretty well over, and the streets are being opened to cars again.

Bike NOPA

Ah well, there's one more this year. Perhaps I can swing an open house in the Mission on October 23rd, and there's always car free weekends in Golden Gate Park, thanks to the SF Bike Coalition. 

SFGate

The Golden Gate Bridge cycling situation is still a bit of a mess. Thanks to the Marin County Bicycling Coalition for their efforts to mitigate said mess. Here's the place to get updates from the GG Bridge District. 


The big 75th anniversary celebration preparation is underway, and the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy's Trails Forever is working to connect the newish Bay Trail at Battery East bike lane to a more functional multi-use path under the bridge to the coastal bluffs along Lincoln Blvd. 

SF Streets

The Golden Gate Bridge is much beloved and can get very crowded, even without massive road (and trail) reconstruction. Through some inexplicable collective unconscious process, it seems like every access road north and south and the bridge itself is undergoing major change. Having worked with several of the agencies involved, I know this has to do with funding timing and other factors out of their individual control. It is not part of a conspiracy to torture us, though it sure can seem that way.

Alas, we must all be patient, and eventually all the repair and reconstruction of roads around the golden gate will be completed. In the meantime, here's a couple more places to go for updates. 


Marin Headlands


Doyle Drive ("Presidio Parkway")


and for your sartorial inspiration- Cycle Chic

Sacramento Press