West Hollywood is California's Most Walkable City?

By Dennis Romero Tue., Jul. 26 2011 at 4:43 PM

Nichole O'Connor.

Walking in WeHo.

West Hollywood was named the "Most Walkable" city in California. It's 89 out of 100 score for walkable amenities even beat out San Francisco and New York, the two major cities that duked it out for top honors (New York won).

Makes you wonder if the company that does the annual ranking, Seattle-based Walk Score, really has a feel for L.A.

Don't get us wrong, we love West Hollywood's ...

... screamingly lit-up cross walks, in-your-face sheriff's patrols and median foliage fit for a zoo. It's all so tidy and eye-friendly.

And still you'd be lucky not to get flattened trying to cross Santa Monica Boulevard. And forget trying to foot it from the west side of the city to the east in this long, east-west town. That's nearly 2.5 miles worth of hoofing by our Thomas Bros. wall map.

And yet the Walk Score folks say its ranking is largely based on "proximity to nearby amenities." Yeah, well, WeHo has its amenities: Pavilions, Trader Joe's, dog grooming, adult stores, pawn shops and clubs. But is that really what a walk-worthy city is about?

And really now, West Hollywood is more walkable than Santa Monica? WeHo has a nice stroll in Santa Monica Boulevard, and maybe you can throw in sections of Robertson Boulevard, which is also cut into slices belonging to the cities of L.A. and Beverly Hills. You might throw in the Sunset Strip, but we doubt people climb the hill and walk there. They park and walk, yeah.

And Santa Monica has ... Santa Monica Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Third Street Promenade, Ocean Avenue, Ocean Park Boulevard, and Pico Boulevard.

Discuss.

Tags:

California, Los Angeles, Most Walkable, New York, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Walk Score, West Hollywood

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Bradley Stebbins

I live in WeHo and while it's nice having groecery stores, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, etc within 2 blocks at all times - it shouldn't be ranked as high without direct metro access. I walk everywhere in the city when I'm not at work, but I'm not leaving WeHo anytime soon on foot.

Bronson

I'm dismissing this piece as non-story rabble-rousing. West Hollywood is by its nature very mixed with residential and commercial development, and new development is carrying on that tradition. For the record, Old Town Pasadena is also a great place to stroll.

Jack

I was nearly run over by a bicyclist on Santa Monica Blvd- where it's apparently legal for bicycles to be driven on sidewalks. Not safe at all!

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wren

Glendora is much more walkable than west Hollywood. And I know, I have lived in both. Glendora has a great main street like downtown, shops, grocery stores, etc. Lots of parks. I like WeHo too, but Glendora is much more walkable.

EReed

wow, what are you so angry about man? i live and work in west hollywood. i go to work, the gym, shopping, eating, drinking, and home without ever having to get into my car. and the only people who get hit on santa monica blvd are the people not watching the cars. seriously, i don't know what west hollywood did to get you so angry, but maybe you should go light some aromatherapy candles and chant for a while.

Andy Keown

OK, seriously... I'm not a credible source since I put out the press release on behalf of West Hollywood this morning, but if you think the city is all pawn shops, adult stores and clubs - with a few other businesses thrown in, then you aren't credible either. I live and work here, and do 99% of my shopping/errands/activities in the city's borders. Not because I have to but because it's super convenient and compact; everything you need is here. No one walks the entire length of Santa Monica Boulevard (why would they?) but the largest area of the city is to the West, where you can easily get from Sunset to Santa Monica Blvd. to Melrose in 10 minutes.