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Goals > Walking

Walking

Picture
Photo: pedbikeimages.org/ Dan Burden
Walking is a recommended activity to help people reach the recommended levels of physical activity, in part because it can be easily incorporated into everyday life (US DHHS, 2015). Walking is defined here to mean the movement of every pedestrian, including those who walk or roll with a mobility device.

In addition to its physical activity benefits, walking can increase social interaction (Wood et al., 2010, paywall) and improve mental health. Walking is a pollution-free activity and when a walking trip substitutes for a vehicle trip, it reduces air and climate pollution. 

Proven Strategies

  • Local Accessibility (Local Access to Destinations)
  • Active Travel to School​
  • ​Pedestrian Infrastructure
  • Transit Access
  • Transit Service

Equity and Inclusion

  • Pedestrians are disproportionately injured and killed on US roadways. While overall rates of deaths from traffic crashes decreased in 2018, pedestrian deaths increased; in fact, they are the highest they have been since 1990 (NHTSA, 2019).
  • Drivers are less likely to yield to Black pedestrians attempting to cross the street in crosswalks, suggesting driver bias may play a role in Black pedestrian deaths (Coughenour et al., 2017, paywall; Goddard et al., 2015, paywall).
  • People of color, especially Black people, may fear harassment or violence while walking. As such, an approach that only incorporates environmental interventions will not directly address racist violence.
  • Street lighting may improve resident perception of safety. ​

Implementation Guidance

Guides & Reports
Urban Street Design Guide




​

NACTO, n.d.
Universal Design Elements




​
​
NACTO, n.d.
Tools
Integrated Transport and Health Impact Model (ITHIM) USA



​
Maizlish, Jiang & Weiher, 2020
Research Reports & Briefs
Pedestrian Crossings and Safety on Four Anishinaabe Reservations in Minnesota​
​
Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2020
Synthesis of Methods for Estimating Pedestrian and Bicyclist Exposure to Risk at Areawide Levels and on Specific Transportation Facilities
Federal Highway Administration, 2017
Fact Sheets & Infographics
Health Benefits of Walking



​

America Walks, n.d.
Model Policy & Code
The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2018
​

​
Smart Growth America & National Complete Streets Coalition, 2019​​​
Taking On Traffic Laws: A How-To Guide for Decriminalizing Mobility



BikeWalkKC & Safe Routes Partnership, 2022
(Proposed) Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines 



​​
US Access Board, 2013
Walk Audit Tool Kit and Leader Guide





​AARP, 2016
Economic Impacts on Local Businesses of Investments in Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure: A Review of the Evidence (paywall)
Volker & Handy, 2021
Moving Toward Active Transportation: How Policies Can Encourage Walking and Bicycling 


​​​


Active Living Research, 2016
Steps to a Walkable ​Metropolitan Planning Organization Ideas to Improve and Provide More Walking and Bicycling Projects​
Transportation for America & American Public Health Association, 2017
Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach


​​The Institute of Transportation Engineers & the Congress for New Urbanism, 2010
Pedestrians First: Tools for a Walkable City


​​
Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, 2020
Examining the Increase in Pedestrian Fatalities in the United States, 2009-2018

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2021
Reducing Climate Change Impacts on Walking and Cycling



​
​C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, 2020
Creating Walkable and Bikeable Communities: A User Guide to Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans
Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation & Alta, 2012
Built Environment Assessment Tool and Manual
​

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015
Pursuing Equity in Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning



​Pedestrian Bicycle Information Center, 2016
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  • Home
  • Goals
    • Physical Activity
    • Bicycling
    • Walking
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Vehicle Miles Traveled
  • Strategies
    • Transportation Infrastructure >
      • Bicycle Infrastructure
      • Pedestrian Infrastructure
      • Traffic Calming
    • Transportation Demand Management >
      • Active Travel to School
      • Employer-Based Trip Reduction Programs
      • Parking Availability and Pricing
      • Road User Pricing
      • Voluntary Travel Behavior Change Programs
    • Land Use Strategies >
      • Local Accessibility
      • Regional Accessibility
      • Residential Density
      • Land Use Mix
      • Street Network Connectivity
    • Public Transit >
      • Transit Access
      • Transit Service
    • Engagement >
      • Community Engagement
  • Emerging issues
  • Approach
  • About
    • People
    • Work with Us
    • Support our Work
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