Why You Should Check Walk Scores Before Renting an Apartment in Kamloops
If you’re viewing rental apartments in Kamloops, or any city, finding an apartment in the right neighbourhood is probably as important as other factors that can affect your apartment living experience.
Whether people are looking for a rental apartment or a pair of shoes, we all tend to selectively focus on what we want while ignoring anything negative that may get in the way of achieving what we desire. This psychological phenomenon is called “cognitive dissonance”. It’s the discomfort we experience when we hold conflicting thoughts and feelings about a particular subject – in this case, apartments. We may be so focused on price, number of bedrooms, apartment layout and other things, that our judgement becomes clouded and we forget to look closely at the location.
A good location means different things to different people, but for many, it’s about how liveable a neighbourhood is and how it supports their lifestyle. Walkability is one such factor.
Understanding Walkability Scores
A “walk score” rates a location’s ease of access to shopping, services, restaurants, parks, schools and other amenities. It answers the question “How easy is it for me to accomplish tasks on foot?” By choosing a location with a good walkability score, you’ll save time doing errands, be less dependent on your vehicle or transit and will have a more positive experience in general.
Summit Village Residences Walkability
Address: 1415 and 1425 Summit Drive, Kamloops
Walk score: 71 – Very Walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot.
Kamloops average walkability score: 23
View Walk Score.
As you can see from the score above, our two Kamloops apartments are in a location that is very walkable. The neighbourhood also has a transit score of 50, a rating of “Good”, meaning there are many public transportation options. There is a bus stop located on Summit Drive directly in front of our buildings. While the area’s bike infrastructure score is only “15”, this is typical of Kamloops, where most bike lanes are in the downtown core.
Benefits of a Good Walk Score
There are many benefits to renting an apartment in a neighbourhood that is walkable.
- Buy groceries
- Shop
- Bank
- Dine at a local restaurant or order take-out
- Attend local fitness classes
- Get fit or maintain your health by walking
- Save money on transit, gas and maintenance costs for a vehicle
- Be more independent
- Get to know your neighbourhood and its people
Aside from convenience, if you live in a neighbourhood that’s walkable, you will walk more! While it may seem obvious, there have even been studies that reveal just how important higher walkability is to increased physical activity and reduced obesity.
Read about the study “Higher Walkability Associated with Increased Physical Activity and Reduced Obesity among U.S. Adults”. The study concluded that “Findings highlight the importance of investing in the built environment to improve perceptions of walkability and promote PA [physical activity] and healthy weight”
Happy walking!
Summit Village – Modern Rental Apartments in Kamloops
Summit Village Residences is located in the Kamloops Upper Sahali neighbourhood, within walking distance of many neighbourhood amenities. If you’d like to rent an apartment, please view our floor plans and pricing and complete a Preferred Unit form. A representative will contact you within a few business days to discuss next steps.
