[rabbits77]

There's a bit of contradiction in the article. The main objection is the author's feeling of uneasiness in open spaces. "liminal spaces" created by, for example, large parking lots. The author then complains that these wide open spaces are not "walkable". What? They are certainly walkable by their very design! What they are not, it seems is the real objection, are cozy spaces lined with tacqueiras and coffee shops.

[timeon]

Walkable means that you can walk to something, not just walk to another house.

[red-iron-pine]

Walkable in the sense that I can meet most of my needs via walking.

I live 2 blocks away from a grocery store, for example. There is a 24 hour pharmacy roughly the same distance, and a couple coffee shops + a gas station + McDonalds not too much further away.

There is an expansive set of tennis courts and beach vollyball area within walking distance, and next to it is a great park & playground. A bit further in the other direction is an elementary school with playgrounds, and beyond that, at the edge of what I'd consider walkable, is a splash park.

Get on a bike and the offerings double.

Meanwhile, my parents are 20 minutes away from anything outside of a single gas station. Plenty of nice houses, and at least one school and fire dept., but they basically have to drive into town -- even though they're surrounded by houses -- just to snag a simple coffee or quick grocery store run.

[rabbits77]

the article states this person is walking in commercial area. that is what is creating the liminal space. she’s not strolling through the woods. she’s basically just bothered that her neighborhood isn’t gentrified enough yet.