The importance of walk score when choosing a suburb wasn’t as stark as it was before the several lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The limitation in activity radius made people realise two things: 1) how important physical health is, and 2) how important it is to be close to important community amenities such as cafes, shops, parks and public transportation. Thus, after the series of lockdowns, both buyers and sellers put walkability, proximity to open-air and promotion of health and social living as their top criteria in choosing a suburb.
Suburbs where walking safely isn’t a struggle is now a top priority. The truth is Australians love to walk. It is the most accessible low-impact exercise that everyone can do especially that 40% of the Australian population do not have access to private transport. This includes kids, teenagers and senior citizens.
Walking may be simple and straightforward but it has huge benefits not only to individuals but to the society as a whole. In a community where people walk, there are less cars. Less cars mean lower carbon emissions. This benefits the air quality for everyone. Walking also promotes healthy lifestyle and prevents the risk of the populace to develop conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Investors and business owners factor in these as well when choosing a new area for their business and developments.
What are the top Walkable Suburbs in Melbourne?
While some suburbs are in the process of walk score improvement, these five suburbs are already leading the game with their high walkability score:
Carlton
Carlton is a great multicultural suburb with everything within reach. It is the top choice of uni students as it is close to Melbourne University. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes close by to chill and hang out too.
Fitzroy
Fitzroy is the suburb for all things cool. Surrounded by lots of street art and good cultural representation, people just love to walk here. There are also lots of nice parks and cool bars and cafes everywhere.
St Kilda
St Kilda is accessible to what the best of nature can offer: beautiful beaches and gardens. This hip suburb also has a wide offering of fantastic cafes, bars and restaurants.
South Yarra
South Yarra appeals to the younger age group with its vibrant crowd. There are lots of places to eat and drink here. For days you crave a semblance of nature, you can walk to the botanical gardens, Yarra River, and the beach.
East Melbourne
East Melbourne is a serene suburb surrounded by beautiful old heritage houses, wide tree-lined streets, and parks.
Providing insights on walkscore helps renters, buyers, and sellers make more informed decisions. At Collings Real Estate, we take pride in providing quick insights to website visitors through our property tools where Walkscore is included:
So if you are looking into buying, selling or renting properties in Melbourne, especially Victoria, Collings Real Estate is happy to assist you with your requirements. Simply fill out our contact form or give us a call at +61 3 9486 2000.
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