What Is Walkability?
By: Alex X. Martinez
In today’s society, motorized modes of transportation, such as cars or buses, are more of a necessity than a luxury. Often times, the infrastructure in our communities is not favorable for the use of non-motorized modes of transportations such as bicycles or walking. This enhanced need for motorized transportation in addition to issues in infrastructure (incomplete streets) and safety concerns are hindering the opportunities to engage in physical activity by walking. Walking is an easy way to start and maintain a physically active lifestyle, and walkable communities make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to be active.
According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children and teenagers should perform a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity per day. 9 In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that only 27% of high school students engaged in levels of physical activity that met the guideline for 60 minutes a day.2 Despite the known health benefits of being physically active, only one-quarter of high school students meet the minimum guidelines for aerobic physical activity.9
The National Center on Health Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) defines walking as a simple form of physical activity with substantial health benefits. It can also serve as a starting point for reducing sedentary behaviors and a gateway to other forms of physical activity. Given equal access to walking spaces and the adoption of livable community policies, walking is a viable form of physical activity for Americans of all ages and abilities. Through the How I Walk campaign, NCHPAD recognizes that there are various ways to walk (wheelchair, power-chair, mobility device, cane, stroller, etc.) and these forms of walking should be represented in every walking initiative.
Unfortunately, many schools and districts experience significant cuts in recess and physical education classes. This practice significantly reduces opportunities to engage in sufficient physical activity to improve health status. Walking to school is not the equivalent of physical education and free play, but it is another great way to engage in physical activity to avoid sedentary lifestyle and improve health. School environments are ideal for promoting walking programs. These initiatives can promote many benefits for the community and the students such as:
- A reduction in costs for the family, community, and schools.
- A reduction in the amount of pollutants produced by automobiles.
- Walking gives the students a feeling of joy and independence, and it provides opportunities to interact with their peers.
- Students can appreciate things (environment) that are not noticed while riding in a car or bus.
- Walking uses all of the major muscle groups in the upper and lower body and is low impact.
- Walking is one of the healthiest, safest, and easiest ways to begin a fitness program and can be a big step toward improving your health and the health of your students. In 2009, 203,000 children ages 15 and younger were injured in motor vehicles crashes; 15,000 of those injured were pedestrians.6
What is walkability?
Walkability is a broad term that encompasses the ability for individuals to be able to walk in their communities; however, in order to encourage and support this type of behavior, there are a lot of components to take into consideration when designing walkable communities. Here are a few:
- Access to public transit
- Walking opportunities for all types for walkers of all abilities, including those who use a mobility device, strollers, or carts.
- Access to cycling routes
- Destinational walking and recreational walking
- Pleasant walking environment
- Safe sidewalks
- Appropriate crossings with signaling
- To create inclusive communities and comply with the law, sidewalks must also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Street lighting
- Well-planned architecture and landscape design with enough public seating at regular intervals