Walkable Communities

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Walkable Communities

In these days of suburban sprawl, endless commutes, and traffic nightmares, it may be hard to recall, but there was a time when you could get around your neighborhood or town without getting into a car. You could take the family dog for a stroll down the sidewalk on a beautiful spring evening or walk to a neighborhood grocery to pick up ingredients for dinner. Your children could walk safely to school or to see a movie at a nearby theater. These were the days of “walkable communities” and, thankfully, there is a growing movement to bring them back.

In communities throughout Louisiana, people are expressing a growing desire to walk — to walk more often, to walk to more places, and to feel safe while doing so. The benefits of walking —whether for practical or recreational purposes — include improved environmental, economic and personal health, reduced traffic congestion, and enhanced quality of life.

Find out just how “walkable” your neighborhood or community is by planning a “Walking Audit.” Watch our video to find out more.

Why Walk?

According to the non-profit Walkable Communities, “walking remains the cheapest form of transport for all people, and the construction of a walkable community provides the most affordable transportation system any community can plan, design, construct, and maintain.” Walkable communities also “put urban environments back on a scale for sustainability of resources (both natural and economic) and lead to more social interaction, physical fitness, and diminished crime and social problems.” In short, a walkable community is a more liveable community.

What makes a community walkable?

1. Intact town centers. This center includes a quiet, pleasant main street with a hearty set of stores, open for business a minimum of 8 hours a day, all within a 1/4 mile walk (5 minutes) of the absolute center.
2. Residential densities, mixed income, mixed use. Near the town center, and in a large town at appropriate transit locations, there will be true neighborhoods. A truly walkable community does not force people to drive to where they work.
3. Public space . There are many places for people to assemble, play, and associate with others within their neighborhood.
4. Universal design . The community has appropriate ramps, refuges, crossings of driveways, sidewalks on all streets where needed, benches, shade, and other basic amenities to make walking feasible and enjoyable.
5. Key streets are speed controlled. Traffic moves on main streets and in neighborhoods at safe, courteous speeds. Many of these streets are tree lined and have on-street parking to keep traffic speeds under control.
6. Streets & trails are well linked. The town has a good block form, often in a grid or other highly connected pattern.
7. Design is properly scaled to 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 mile radius segments . Neighborhood elementary schools are within a 1/4 mile walking radius of most homes. Most important features are within 1/8 mile, and a good, well designed place to wait for a high frequency bus is within 1/4 to 1/2 mile.
8. The town and the neighborhoods have a vision. A well thought out master plan gets past sticky issues, and deals with the most basic, fundamental, necessary decisions and commitments. There are budgets set aside for neighborhoods, for sidewalks, trails, links, and parks.

*Courtesy of Walkable Communities

Walking Facts

1. The average person takes 2,000 steps per mile.
2. 10,000 steps per day is a great goal for someone trying to increase their physical activity level.
3. Although 41% of all trips made in the United States are two miles or less, fewer than 10% of all trips are made by walking and biking.
4. Parents driving children to school comprises 20-30% of morning traffic congestion in urban areas.

Source: America Walks

Walking Links

America Walks - a national coalition of local advocacy groups dedicated to promoting walkable communities.

Smart Growth America - a coalition of national, state and local organizations working to improve the ways we plan and build the towns, cities and metro areas we call home.

Walkable Communities – A nonprofit organization founded in 1996 with a mission of promoting walkability as the cornerstone of a successful, vibrant community.

Walk Score – An organization that promotes walkable neighborhoods as “one of the simplest and most effective solutions to halt climate change, improve our health, and strengthen our communities.”