I'm surprised Melrose wasn't rated higher. I think one could live car free very easily here. Seems to me that all the essentials are in walking distance for most residents (assuming one is healthy enough to walk a mile or so).

I'm surprised it isn't higher too! What does it take to get a higher rating? Repairing sidewalks would be good. Some of them are tough especially with a stroller.

it's quite walkable, i think, and in fact, i feel a bit spoiled by how much you can get done without a car around here. granted, i'll take the car when i'm doing a larger shopping trip, but most errands can be done without one.

I walk downtown several days a week and the area around Wyoming St is very pedestrian friendly, although I'd like to raise the Lincoln School crosswalk into a mild speed bump since drivers don't always notice the kids.

good point, ken - i come through that area sometimes on the way home at night, and the same point holds true for pedestrians that time of night (folks coming off the commuter rail) as well.

When staying in Melrose I walk (or bike) to most places. If I didn't work in Brookline, I don't think I'd need my car at all. That said, the sidewalks (if you can call them that) on my street are atrocious. There's no way a stroller or wheelchair could ever pass on them. In fact my next door neighbor just had a baby and they walk the stroller down the street. Luckily we live on a quiet street with no through traffic but it's still dangerous.