Raise the Hammer
I just came across an amazing Google Maps mashup that takes your address and checks how many amenities - restaurants, cafes, bars, libraries, parks, hardware stores, and so on - are within walking distance.
It's called Walk Score. Try it out using the form below. The results open in a new browser window, and the page does take a little while to load.
By peter (anonymous) | Posted July 17, 2007 at 21:53:17
it's cool but doesn't really work. i live downtown and according to it the closest coffee shop is in guelph and the closest school is 43 miles away. oooops.
By nobrainer (registered) | Posted July 18, 2007 at 10:49:13
Nice concept but the execution needs some work. I think they take the local destinations data out of Google, which is an automatic algorithm that works, you know, most of the time.
Funny, it lists schools 30 miles from my house but misses the ones right around the corner.
By r (anonymous) | Posted July 18, 2007 at 16:34:55
Some folks at environment hamilton discovered that a compact disc (the disc) placed over a city map describes a radius of almost exactly 2km - easy walking distance. They call it the COMMUTING DISTANCE (CD) disc.
Place it over your residence on the map and everything that falls into the circle is walkable.
You don't even need to turn your computer on!