Walkable Neighborhoods
Walking is a fun and important part of a healthy lifestyle, so it's no wonder people are increasingly seeking walkable neighborhoods. There are lots of tools available to help you become an avid, but safe, walker.
- Walk Score - Walk Score is a tool that shows how convenient your neighborhood is based on walking distance to shops, restaurants, schools and transit. It's handy for exploring neighborhoods or looking for a new place to live. There's even an iPhone app! If you're looking to sell a property, use a Walk Score badge to show off how walkable your neighborhood is.
- Safety - Walk Score doesn't report on the quality of the sidewalks, so if you're looking to become a more avid walker, there are resources to help you stay safe. This resource for older adults (PDF) is actually great for everyone because it shows the difference between streets designed with pedestrians in mind and those where walking is unpleasant and even dangerous.
- Stay Motivated! - The American Heart Association hosts My Start!, an online community where you can start a walking program for yourself or a group, connect with other walkers and stay motivated.
Improve Walkability in Your Community
We know that not all neighborhoods are as walkable as they should be, but that doesn't mean they can't be. If you're interested in making your community a pedestrian-friendly place, consider conducting a pedestrian audit.
- Do a Sidewalk Safety Audit - You and your neighbors can print out a checklist (PDF) and do some simple research just by observing street, sidewalk and driving conditions.
- Take Action - Speak up at board meetings, contact decision makers, start a petition, or initiate a pedestrian education campaign through the National Complete Streets Coalition (NCSC). NCSC works in communities around the country to implement safe, complete sidewalks. You can host a workshop in your community to get started or even change current policies.
Available Resources
- Walk Score
- Walking Safety Tips
- American Heart Association's My Start!
- National Complete Streets Coalition
- Walkability Checklist (PDF)
- Safe Routes to School
- Walking School Bus
Get the Kids Involved
With childhood obesity at an all-time high, it's important to get the kids involved in daily exercise. There are programs available to help get your kids in your community started as young pedestrians.
- Safe Routes to School (SRTS) - SRTS is a national program that works to "improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to safely walk and bicycle to school." Start a conversation with decision makers about how to get started with a SRTS program in your area.
- Walking School Bus - If you already have safe streets for children to walk to school, consider starting a Walking School Bus. Walking School Buses are groups of children walking with one or more adults to school. This can be as informal as a family or group of neighbors taking turns walking their kids to school, or it can be as coordinated as a community-wide program. And remember, adults can walk to work, too!
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