Walkable Cities
Walkable cities use planning, design, and density to maximize walking and minimize driving. Emissions decrease as pedestrians take the place of cars.
Introduction
Walking is the simplest, most sustainable, and cheapest medium of locomotion. In 2018, humanity walked 1,573 billion kilometers, or an average of 200 kilometers (130 miles) per person per year—barely seven minutes per day. We drive seven times as much as we walk. Walkability is still associated only with leisure and recreation in most urban projects around the world. However, the notion of walking as sustainable urban mobility is increasing.
Project Drawdown’s Walkable Cities solution involves increasing walking by designing and retrofitting urban environments to encourage walking for transportation. This solution replaces the conventional practice of driving internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in cities.
The seven dimensions of the built environment—demand, demographics, density, design, destination, distance, and diversity—are all key drivers of walkability. These seven variables are highly interrelated and are challenging to model independently. Because there is insufficient measurement of all variables for large numbers of cities, this analysis focuses on population density as the key indicator for walkability.
Walkable trips are not simply those with a manageable distance from point A to point B, perhaps a 10- to 15-minute journey on foot. They have walk appeal, thanks to a density of fellow walkers, a mix of land and real estate uses, and key design elements that create compelling environments for people on foot. Infrastructure for walkability can include:
density of homes, workplaces, and other spaces
wide, well-lit, tree-lined sidewalks and walkways
safe and direct pedestrian crossings
connectivity with mass transit.
Today, too many urban spaces remain no- or low-walking ones, and demand for walkable places far outstrips supply. That is because walkable cities are easier and more attractive to live in, making for happier, healthier citizens. Health, prosperity, and sustainability go hand in hand.
Project ideas to get started
Campaign that highlights benefits of walking over driving
A mobile app that prioritizes walking directions over driving directions
Fun art work of walk paths that are done by local artists
Interactive stations on walk paths that educate people on local history in that area
