I recently ran across an interesting tool at WalkScore.com, one that assesses the “walkability”, or ease of traveling as a pedestrian, of any address!
However, while it’s fun to see how our homes stack up, this tool invites a healthy discussion of how “walkability” contributes to economic and cultural vitality.
The economic and cultural vitality of a community is influenced by countless factors. Walking and other forms of transportation alternative to vehicles, can be thought of as one possible proxy for an important indicator of creative and innovative vitality in a community- infrastructure.
Over the past century pedestrian access has declined steadily in most cities. With some exceptions, each advance in transportation technology has seemingly degraded the pedestrian environment.
This can be taken as bad news, especially considering that walking has been directly correlated with results such as better personal health and decreased CO2 emissions, improved social capital (social networks and harmony that inspire trust and reciprocity in a community), as well as direct economic boosts to local businesses found within dense areas popular with pedestrian traffic. Residents living in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods are more likely to know their neighbors, to participate politically, to trust others, and to be involved socially.
But the effects of ‘walkability’ reach well beyond health and social issues; research has also found that in pedestrian-friendly communities, real-estate and property values tend to rise fastest, ‘walkability’ serves as a tourist magnet, and such communities attract “creative/knowledge economy” talent and companies. Further, walkable downtowns with a mix of restaurants, offices and housing promote interaction. Interaction is key since a creative economy thrives on accessibility, networking and innovation.
Shifting awareness in communities to the importance of infrastructure could lead to cohesive, coordinated planning with a clear structure that enables communities to better envision the long term consequences of major urban initiatives and interventions, rather than the pursuit of piecemeal and un-coordinated projects which has degraded the ‘walkability’ element of many communities (and ostensibly, vitality).
Walkability can mean many things, such as (1) close, (2) barrier-free, (3) safe, (4) full of pedestrian infrastructure and destinations, and (5) cosmopolitan; WalkScore.com currently can’t assess many of these elements. However, despite the needed improvements, WalkScore.com is fun to play with!
References and Additional Information:
Ann Forsyth and Michael Southworth; Cities Afoot-Pedestrians, Walkability and Urban Design
Kevin M. Leyden; Social Capital and the Built Environment: The Importance of Walkable Neighborhoods
LGC- Center for Livable Communities; The Economic Benefits of Walkable Communities
