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

  • kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    41·
    2 months ago

    I live in New York (city):

    • Convince store: several within 1-2 blocks
    • Grocery store: 1 block away
    • Train station: 3 blocks away
    • Park: less than a block
    • Library: Very short train ride (4 stops) and a bit of walking (15 minutes) (there is a closer one but that requires a bus and considering New York traffic busses aren’t the best).
    • Statue of Liberty: Roughly 2 hours by train
    • Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works
      1·
      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
        1·
        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
          2·
          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.