Los Angeles, a city known for its congested traffic and dominant car culture, has been ranked as the 8th most walkable city in America by a Smart Growth America study. This ranking might raise eyebrows among those who only know the city for its notorious traffic jams. However, Los Angeles is also celebrated for its sprawling beaches, picturesque boardwalks, vibrant shopping districts, and an array of trails and hikes.
The city’s ranking as the 8th most walkable in the U.S. came from a comprehensive analysis of the nation’s 35 largest metropolitan areas, focusing on walkability factors like significant points of interest, job density, and the availability of office or retail space. This approach led to cities being ranked based on their walkable neighborhoods.
The study credits Los Angeles’ web of walkable spots, linked by an extensive transit system of metro, buses, and shared scooters and bikes, for its ranking. Nonetheless, the study highlights that the city’s walkability badge is dimmed by challenges, like income inequality and the high cost of living. Walkability in LA is a multifaceted, subjective issue that’s shaped by geography, infrastructure, and socio-economics.
Curious about the lived reality of walkability in LA, we posed a question to Angelenos: Is Los Angeles truly a walkable city? Why or why not? The responses ranged widely:
Angelenos saying ‘Yes’ to LA being walkable:
- “Los Angeles City is very walkable [with] lots of metro bus and train.”
- “Yes in some spots like Santa Monica, Montana Avenue, Venice, Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Pacific Palisades, West Hollywood, Santa Monica Boulevard & Robertson Boulevard area, and Larchmont Village near Koreatown.”
- “I walk an average of 8,000 steps a day around Santa Monica/West LA. It’s one of the main reasons I’ve lived here for over thirty years.”
Angelenos saying ‘No’ to LA being walkable:
- “I think there are tons of neighborhoods in LA that are super walkable, but given the sprawl of the city as a whole, it definitely isn’t walkable in the same way that like NYC, Chicago, or SF are. I know the metro lines are expanding more and more and that definitely will help! But there’s still a long way to go.”
- “LA is NOT a walkable city. The infrastructure is not set up for walkers. I walk 10 miles a day – 3 or so times a week – all over LA. There are areas where sidewalks simply stop.”
- “You can walk to your car.”
- Many respondents simply answered “no,” and we received a few references to Missing Persons’ 1981 single, 🎶 “Nobody walks in LA” 🎶 as a response.
Angelenos saying ‘Kind of/It depends’ to LA being walkable:
- “It depends what neighborhood you live in and where in that neighborhood you live. It can be walkable if you live close enough to things you can walk to!”
- “Many neighborhoods are extremely charming and quite walkable to see interest in shops to eat to just look into the shops. But if you’re talking about Los Angeles, you’re talking about urban sprawl, so can you walk all over the Los Angeles area? No. Only certain portions and it’s worth it.”
- “[LA is walkable] to a point. Walked all over for food in K-Town, and same in Pasadena, walked 20,000 steps everyday. Walked to train stations for bigger commutes. But a car is needed on weekends to go to more places, or buy bigger things.”
- “[LA is walkable] if what you need is in a walkable distance. When the walking time exceeds the driving time, your choice is made.”
As you’ve read, Los Angeles’ walkability is a hot topic, and the wide range of views also highlights a strong need for better sidewalks and urban planning. A 2023 study by the National Association of Realtors found that most Americans, including younger generations like Gen Z and millennials, really value being able to walk in their neighborhoods. They’re even willing to pay more for it, showing a strong preference for places where shops, parks, and work are just a short walk away.
The conversation about whether Los Angeles can truly be considered a walkable city is complex, and varies widely depending on who you talk to. And yes, sometimes you have to drive to start your walk, highlighting the unique challenges and considerations around urban design and mobility in the city.
With all that a dynamic city like Los Angeles can offer, the journey toward a more walkable Los Angeles may be a challenge, but it can also be a unique opportunity to transform urban living.
The 20 most walkable cities in America
- New York
- Boston
- Washington, D.C.
- Seattle
- Portland
- San Francisco
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Miami
- Charlotte
- Austin
- Atlanta
- Denver
- Cleveland
- Houston
- Columbus
- Baltimore
You can learn more about the methodology and the walkable cities in America at Smart Growth America.