Transportation

Map: These are the least walkable neighborhoods in Phoenix

Phoenix is the second-least walkable city in America, and these areas are the least friendly to pedestrians.
two people walking on an arizona road
Three Phoenix neighborhoods have Walk Scores of zero.

Kolostock/Getty Images

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Want to grab groceries or a cup of coffee without risking your life on Valley roadways? As most residents know, that isn’t easy in Phoenix.

Phoenix is the second-least walkable city in America among those with a population of a million or more, according to Walk Score. While the Valley has public transit services, such as the Valley Metro rail and bus routes, and is considered “somewhat bikeable” by Walk Score, most errands require a car. San Antonio, Texas, is the only city that’s worse for pedestrians.

Walk Scores are calculated using Google, Open Street Map, the U.S. Census and other sources, with points awarded on a 0-100 scale based on the walking distance of amenities such as grocery stores and restaurants. Amenities within a five-minute walk are given maximum points, while amenities that take 30 minutes to reach by foot receive no points.

There are pockets in Phoenix that are walkable for residents. According to Walk Score, downtown Phoenix plus the historic neighborhoods of Garfield, Eastlake Park, Coronado and eastern Valencia Acres are the most walkable areas.

Editor's Picks

That dovetails with the findings in a study by The Washington Post. Unsurprisingly, the study showed that the downtown areas of many Valley cities – including Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert – had walkable pockets.

Phoenix’s nonwalkable areas are … pretty much everywhere else. In particular, three Phoenix neighborhoods earned a Walk Score of zero.

Here are the least walkable neighborhoods in Phoenix, according to Walk Score.

Tie-1. Preserve at Boulder Mountain

Related

Google Maps

This suburban neighborhood of single-family homes in North Phoenix backs up to the Deem Hills mountain range.

Walk Score: 0
Bike Score: 32
Population: 1,087

Tie-1. Pyramid Heights

Related

Google Maps

This neighborhood is right next to the Preserve at Boulder Mountain and has very similar features.

Walk Score: 0
Bike Score: 40
Population: 566

Tie-1. Foothills Reserve

Related

Google Maps

This neighborhood is at the base of South Mountain in the western corner of Phoenix’s Ahwatukee neighborhood.

Walk Score: 0
Bike Score: 22
Population: 1,156

Tie-4. Dobbins Creek

Related

Google Maps

This neighborhood is in South Phoenix near the base of South Mountain. It has a community park and is near the South Mountain Baptist Church and Highland Park.

Walk Score: 2
Transit Score: 40
Bike Score: 42
Population: 752

Tie-4. Laveen Ranch

Related

Google Maps

This neighborhood is in Laveen’s western corner of Maricopa County.

Walk Score: 2
Transit Score: 28
Bike Score: 42
Population: 830

Tie-4. Laveen Meadows

Related

Google Maps

Just south of Laveen Ranch, this neighborhood also is home to many single-family homes. Western Maricopa County’s Desert Meadows School and Laveen Meadows Park also are found in this neighborhood.

Walk Score: 2
Transit Score: 27
Bike Score: 45
Population: 2,466

7. Mountaingate North

Related

Google Maps

This Cave Creek neighborhood in North Phoenix is full of single-family homes. It is just south of Phoenix’s Cave Buttes Recreation Area and Falcon Mountain.

Walk Score: 3
Bike Score: 31
Population: 897

Tie-8. Dove Valley Ranch

Related

Google Maps

This north Cave Creek neighborhood borders a mountainous area. It also is home to the Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club and Dove Valley Park.

Walk Score: 4
Bike Score: 38
Population: 1,784

Tie-8. Colina del Norte

Related

Google Maps

This neighborhood is just southeast of Dove Valley Ranch in Cave Creek.

Walk Score: 4
Bike Score: 32
Population: 515

GET MORE COVERAGE LIKE THIS

Sign up for the This Week’s Top Stories newsletter to get the latest stories delivered to your inbox

Loading latest posts...