I’ve heard the legends of having to drive to literally everywhere (e.g. drive thru banks), but I have no clue how far apart things are.

I live in suburban London where you can get to a big supermarket in 10 minutes of walking, a train station in 20 minutes and convenience stores are everywhere. You can get anywhere with bus and train in a few hours.

Can someone help a clueless British lemmyposter know how far things are in the US?

EDIT

Here are my walking distances:

  • To the nearest convenience store: 250m
  • To the nearest chain supermarket: 350m
  • To the bus stop: 310m
  • To the nearest park: 400m
  • To the nearest big supermarket: 1.3km
  • To the nearest library: 1.2km
  • To the nearest train station: 1km

Straight-line distance to Big Ben: 16km

  • Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    2 months ago

    Roughly how big/long is a block in US cities? It’s a measurement you guys use as your cities are so young and were planned out on grids. Where I’m from our cities are pretty chaotic and weirdly shaped as they grew organically through the centuries.

    • meep_launcher@lemm.ee
      0·
      2 months ago

      I looked it up and a block in Chicago (where I live) is between 100 to 600 meters.

      Chicago and New York have similar walkability, at least in my experience.

      Nearest Grocery Store is 1.2 km (0.8miles) away from me, I usually take my bike to go shopping

      Nearest park is like… 50 feet from me (15meters) but I happen to live right next to a park.

      Nearest cornerstore is 300 meters

      Nearest train station is 600 meters

      Nearest library is 800 meters

      To add some more,

      Nearest bar is 400 meters away

      I’m a musician, within 1km of me there are 4 open mics I can go to

      Nearest theater is the Music Box which is 1.2 km away

      Nearest baseball stadium is 1 km away

      God I love Chicago

      • Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        2 months ago

        What a great reply. Thanks. I understand now that a block is a visual marker rather than a set distance. I’m glad you love Chicago and I hope you have a great life there. Chicago, btw, is the one US city that I’ve always had an interest in. You’ve achieved some amazing things there - long may that continue.