Alberta city ranked as one of the least walkable in Canada

If you’re new to Calgary, you might have learned pretty quickly that it’s hard to commute around the city without a car, and it turns out it scores pretty low for walkability compared to other Canadian cities.

The city scored 39 out of 100 for walkability on Walk Score, putting it in 13th place among large Canadian cities.

The score was ranked based on how easy it is to access amenities without a car, and it was found that most errands require a car in Calgary.

Walk Score

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The city also scored 50 for both transit and bikeability. 

It trails behind major cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, which scored 80, 65, and 61, respectively. All three cities scored in the high 60s or 70s for transit, too.

The site names several benefits of living in more walkable cities, such as health and community involvement. It shares that people living in walkable communities weigh, on average, six to 10 pounds less and are overall happier and healthier.

Calgary is trying to increase its pedestrian-friendly status, though, with attempts to make 17th Avenue car-free next summer.

It turns out that some areas are more walkable than others, with the Beltline, Downtown West End, and Cliff Bungalow all listed as the best neighbourhoods for getting around without a car.