According to www.walkscore. com, Columbia received an 86 out of 100 score in walkability. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc., and measures how easy it is to live a car- lite lifestyle. With a score of 86, Columbia is considered to be a "very walkable" city with the flexibility to be able to get by without owning a car. The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, in the heart of it all, scored a 91.

The Walk Score algorithm awards points based on the distance to the closest amenity in each category. If the closest amenity in a category is within .25 miles (or .4 km), they assign the maximum number of points. The number of points declines as the distance approaches one mile (or 1.6 km)—no points are awarded for amenities further than one mile. Each category is weighted equally and the points are summed and normalized to yield a score from 0- 100. The number of nearby amenities is the leading predictor of whether people walk.

Ric Luber, president/ CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism (MACST) states, "Being a 'very walkable' city is a great thing for Columbia. We want our visitors and our residents alike to be able to enjoy strolling along the streets of the city center. After all, we're a 12 month destination - we want everyone to maximize their potential to enjoy our outdoors everyday possible."