Walking

What the ‘Walk Score’ Misses
A popular walkability assessment omits key factors that impact different demographics and can direct development resources to already wealthy neighborhoods.

Research: Walkability Linked to Improved Public Health
A study reveals that the density of city blocks is a significant factor in communities’ walkability and, subsequently, improved public health outcomes for residents.

The Panacea of Outdoor Human Movement
Humans relish in over-complicating things, but the sweetest and healthiest things in life are the simplest.

Take a Walk: Why Step Count Is the Most Valuable Fitness Metric
Step count remains the most valuable fitness metric for longevity and well-being, offering a simple yet powerful way to track daily movement, reduce health risks, and promote active lifestyles without reliance on complex data or technology.

Study: Americans Spending Less Time Interacting in Public Space
American pedestrians are moving faster and spending less time connecting with other people when walking down city streets.

Southeast LA Road Safety Advocates Call for Improved Infrastructure
Streets in southeastern Los Angeles County have a severe lack of protected bike lanes and traffic safety measures, leading to high numbers of fatalities in a community where many residents depend on walking and biking for daily needs.

20 Safest and Most Dangerous US Cities for Pedestrians
Pedestrian safety is a vital component to a walkable city. Which large cities in the United States have a leg up, and which are trailing behind?

How “Walking Audits” Can Improve Neighborhood Mobility
A simple walk through your community can reveal infrastructure gaps and highlight where cities can make streets safer for pedestrians.

Denver to Shift Sidewalk Repair Work to City, Funded by Property Owners
The city is shifting from a piecemeal approach to sidewalk repairs that charged property owners with doing the work to a more streamlined, city-led process.

London Low-Emissions Zone Prompts Shift to Active Modes
More children are using active transportation modes to get to school in the wake of a policy that charges drivers to enter a low-emissions zone in central London.

When ‘Prioritizing All Modes’ Is a Lie
In many cases, it’s impossible to prioritize the safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users without sacrificing some speed.

Pedestrians First: Tools for a Walkable City
A comprehensive new website provides information on why and how to improve community walkability and offers practical tools for evaluating walking conditions.

Study: Half of Global Commutes Made by Car; Rates Vary Widely
The United States is conspicuously consistent in its high rates of car usage, a new analysis finds.

Minnesota Awards Active Transportation Grants
The grants are aimed at helping cities create action plans for improving their bike and pedestrian networks.

Latest Trends in Parks and Recreation
Learn about the top trends impacting parks and recreation, including the use of mobile phone data to track park usage, impacts of climate change, rise of pickleball, a four-day work week, and more.

The Vicious Cycle at the Heart of Pedestrian Safety
When people feel unsafe, they walk less; with fewer pedestrians, walking becomes less safe.

Commentary: Avoiding Ableism in 15-Minute Cities
One author calls on planners to challenge assumptions that exclude people with mobility challenges and other disabilities.

How Strava Metro Data Inform Planning and Decision-Making
Strava just announced the ten-year anniversary of Metro, a proprietary web platform that provides data insights to partner organizations to make active transportation better for cyclists and pedestrians.

Report: Walking Rates Down in All US States
While walking trips decline, driving is back to near-pre-pandemic levels.

How to Reduce Excess Vehicle Travel
Some experts claim that remote work is the most effective way to reduce vehicle travel, but my research indicates that improving and encouraging walking, bicycling, and public transit can provide larger impacts and benefits.
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