Oakland’s overall Walk Score is a respectable 69, just one point shy of the Very Walkable designation. Oakland has so many great, walkable spaces that it’s impossible to list them all. Here the most inviting places to walk in Oakland, based on our very biased sampling:
- Chinatown: Chinatown not only has some of the highest pedestrian density in Oakland, it also has the most beautiful pedestrian scramble crosswalks and an almost perfect Walk Score of 97.
- Fruitvale: The neighborhood near Fruitvale BART offers not only great amenities within walking distance but vibrant culture and arts that add a rich texture to the street life. Walk Score: 90.
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- Rockridge, Temescal, and Piedmont Avenue: These three neighborhoods have commercial strips with everything you need within easy walking distance. You can get coffee while your shoes are being repaired, pick up a few groceries on your way home from a matinee, browse for books or clothes while you are waiting to meet your friends for dinner: the essence of walkbility. Rockridge: 86, Temescal: 90, Piedmont Avenue: 93.
- Grand Lake: Like the three neighborhoods above, Grand Lake offers a host of amenities, from the mundane to the extravagant, in a compact area, but with the added bonus of proximity to the natural beauty of Lake Merritt. Walk Score: 91.
- Adams Point: Although this neighborhood doesn’t have the highest Walk Score (82), it has to be declared the winner among Oakland’s residential neighborhoods because of its proximity to just about everything in the center of the city. Residents can walk to Lake Merritt, Grand Lake, Downtown, Uptown, and Chinatown, without breaking a sweat.
- Downtown: New residents and businesses have reinvigorated street life in Oakland’s urban core. Plus, it’s an easy walk to many desirable destinations, including Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, and Old Oakland. Great transit makes Downtown Oakland a true hub for the city and the region, with a deservedly outstanding Walk Score of 97.
Where do you like to walk in Oakland? Let us know!
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