Pedestrian Oriented Land-Use Reform

https://sustainablecitycode.org/brief/increase-pedestrian-mobility-to-adjacent-zones-2/

https://ecolife.zone/walking-and-pedestrian-friendly-initiatives

Imagine strolling down a street lined with trees, feeling the warm sun on your face, and stopping to chat with neighbors. That’s the appeal of walkable neighborhoods. They not only encourage physical activity and reduce car emissions but also help build a strong sense of community. Picture walking to your favorite café or local market instead of driving – it’s not just about getting somewhere; it’s about enjoying the journey.

Walking isn’t just about going from one place to another; it’s an adventure that connects us with our surroundings on a deeper level. When we design cities with pedestrians in mind, we create spaces that encourage exploration and human connections. It’s like turning each walk into a mini-journey filled with surprises at every turn.

Walking down a busy street, filled with lively shops and welcoming faces, feels like creating a vibrant painting of community bonds. When cities make walking a priority in their design, they not only encourage physical health but also foster social connections and reduce carbon footprints.

Walkability goes beyond helping to address climate change, it also is linked to higher property values, economic growth, and better public health outcomes.

We have a fractured and disconnected mobility system. From gaps in sidewalks to lack of pedestrian connections entirely.

A significant benefit of increasing walkability of a community is the health benefits physical activity can provide. Increased physical activity correlates with areas that have high amounts of connectivity.[14] Adults who live in more pedestrian friendly areas walk around 30 minutes more per week than those who live in less pedestrian friendly areas.[15] By encouraging walking as opposed to driving, these ordinances can help reduce the risk of a number of health problems, such as heart attacks, obesity, stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure. [16]

Promoting walking can also have large environmental benefits. A significant amount of air pollution in more urbanized areas comes from motor vehicles.[17] For example, if a person were to walk 1.5 miles, it “would generate less than a quarter of the GHG [greenhouse gas] that would be emitted if the person drove the same distance.”[18] Implementing connectivity ordinances that allow better walkability allows local governments to reduce emissions benefitting citizen health and the environment.[19]

One benefit more specific to transition walkability is the economic benefit provided to workers.  Commuting costs can often be a big detriment or obstacle to employment.  These costs often affect low-skilled and poor workers the most, as they are more likely to be impacted by commuting costs and spatial barriers to employment.[20] More walkable communities can reduce transportation costs by increasing a person’s “proximity to employment, density, and transit systems.”[21]