The concept of a “walkable community” has picked up palpable steam in several channels across the internet recently. While the common or expected reason to reduce the foothold that car-centered infrastructure has on American cities would be the effect on the physical environment, there are a growing number of individuals supporting it for the sake of their social environments. Increasingly, I am seeing a longing for community within younger populations on social media. This led me to the realization that environmental goals do not have to come at the cost of comfort and lifestyle in the way that they are marketed. To achieve more sustainable communities and reduce our footprint on the planet’s environment, it is valuable to build and promote infrastructure that condenses living spaces and increases accessibility to necessary resources.
As the name suggests, walkable communities are places that prioritize the accessibility of goods and services on foot. This can include basic group transportation such as trolleys and buses, but for the most part, the idea is to be able to walk to your needs if able. This style of city holds a number of benefits for the citizens and the environment alike. For the environment, less paved roads and more paved sidewalks improve microclimates that heat cities and raise the need for air conditioning. On top of this, walkable cities minimize land use which leaves more room for animal and plant populations to thrive. For the citizens, commutes shorten, and the entire community is able to live in a much more engaging and vibrant environment including more common use of parks and town squares. Also, they promote more quiet communities as there are fewer automobiles and large vehicles.
College campuses highlight a key example of creating efficient an effective walkable communities. They are required, in most cases, to provide basic necessities to students of all backgrounds. Those without automobiles are encouraged to find other means of transportation. According to some experts, American college campuses can be used as a model for creating and implementing walkable practices.
Since I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, I know all too well the horrors of daily commutes. They contribute to stress and a sedentary lifestyle. I believe that more cities should invest in the walkability of their communities. Between the younger populations that are becoming increasingly focused on building community and the sake of the planet’s environment, these types of cities would improve the economic and mental conditions of this country’s citizens as well as aid it in achieving environmental and sustainability goals. Atlanta, for one, would greatly benefit from less angry drivers.
Steuteville, Robert. 2021. “Ten Environmental Benefits of Walkable Places.” CNU. August 31, 2021. https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2021/08/31/ten-environmental-benefits-walkable-places.
Maciag, Mike. 2013. “The Most Walkable Cities and How Some Are Making Strides.” Governing. Governing.
December 11, 2013.
https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-most-walkable-cities.html.
https://www.bupipedream.com/author/klee216. 2022. “The Walkability of College Campuses Should Be Mirrored in U.S. Cities.” Pipe Dream. 2022. https://www.bupipedream.com/opinions/133103/the-nostalgia-that-many-americans-have-for-their-college-years-can-be-tied-to-the-walkability-of-college-campuses-compared-to-most-towns-and-cities-in-the-united-states-college-campuses-are-highly-w/.