Skip to Content
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Log In
San Francisco

Which SF Neighborhoods Have the Strongest Walkable Magnetism?

Walkability, transit access, good local schools -- San Franciscans clamor to live in neighborhoods with features like these.

Potrero Hill artist Wendy MacNaughton's "mental map" of the city lists the strongest qualities of seven areas that stand out for her, among them SoMa's "best transit access in town" and the "convenient, walkable, easy everything" nature of Lower Pacific Heights and the Fillmore area.

It's no wonder, considering such characteristics correlate strongly with happiness. Unfortunately, walkable neighborhoods are a scarce resource in this country, which means living in one can come at a high price.

I spotted a copy of the poster hanging in the cafe at City Hall, where an employee pointed out that it was featured on the July 2010 cover of 7x7 Magazine, which commissioned MacNaughton to create the map.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog San Francisco

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Extend the Central Subway to North Beach

There are abandoned tunnels under Stockton Street: here’s how they could transform San Francisco’s subway system.

May 8, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Normal’ is Not Correct, Someone Died Here

After a crash, the debris is quickly cleaned up and everyone moves on (usually too quickly). But these two experts are asking us to all slow down.

May 8, 2025

LA Metro Names Former SFPD Chief Bill Scott as Chief of Police

Chief Scott and Metro leadership emphasized that keeping Metro transit safe would require a multi-faceted approach that included the deployment of officers as well as collaboration with the community, ambassadors, and service providers. "Sometimes enforcement is the answer," Scott said. "Sometimes it's not."

May 7, 2025
See all posts