Goals > Walking
Walking
Photo: pedbikeimages.org/ Dan Burden
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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
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
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Tools
Research Reports & Briefs
Model Policy & Code
The best Complete Streets policies of 2018 Smart Growth America & National Complete Streets Coalition, 2019 |
Designing walkable urban thoroughfares: A context sensitive approach The Institute of Transportation Engineers & the Congress for New Urbanism, 2010 Moving toward active transportation: How policies can encourage walking and bicycling Active Living Research, 2016 |
Steps to a walkable community: A guide for citizens, planners, and engineers Sam Schwartz Engineering & America Walks, 2012 Metropolitan planning organization ideas to improve and provide more walking and bicycling projects Transportation for America & American Public Health Association, 2017 Pedestrians first: Tools for a walkable city Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, 2020 |
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