Chapter 4.3
Pedestrian Mobility

Subchapter Introduction

By Charlie Cowell, AICP, RDG Planning & Design

The amount that people walk varies from person to person and historically over time. Undoubtedly, automated transportation transformed pedestrian mobility from a necessity to a choice for many (while walking is still a necessity for some particularly at lower income levels). The impact of automobiles on pedestrian mobility in our communities is astounding. For example, most European cities were built before automobiles, and as a result, European cities are compact and pedestrian friendly.  The percent of urban trips taken by foot in the U.S. is only 8.6%, compared to 24% in France and 29% in Sweden.[1] The weather would seem to play a factor in active travel, but these statistics disagree. Additionally, overwhelming evidence concludes that the health benefits of walking as a form of physical activity are remarkable for reducing the chance of chronic disease.[2] Then why do people walk less in the U.S.?

Behavioral Choices

People face many choices per day, weighing the costs and benefits of each decision. It is safe to assume that most people understand the health benefits of walking, which are a direct connection to their vested self-interest. However, by choosing to drive a person decides the aggregate costs of walking to the destination or a transit point are more than the aggregate benefits (which can also include environmental sustainability, social interaction, and mental health, among others). The built environment is a significant cost consideration that discourages walking to nearby destinations or within destinations reached by car.[3] A built environment that does not consider pedestrian mobility adds time, decreases safety, lacks comfort, and sets an image of community priorities for pedestrians. 

Why Should Local Governments Care?

Local governments’ land use regulations shape the built environment, and many local governments are starting to recognize the need for communities that encourage pedestrian mobility. As shown in the policy briefs in this subchapter, the benefits of walking go well beyond an individual’s health interests. A preview of some benefits includes:

1. Adds value to the local economy. Walkable areas tend to have higher property values. People in walkable districts tend to spend more time and money at local businesses.[4]
2. Increases the quality of life for residents. Accommodating pedestrian mobility encourages social interaction, leads to attractive streets, and reduces crime (real or perceived).
3. Enhances the visual image of the city. Pedestrian facilities are visible to visitors and show an image of an all-inclusive community.
4. Plays a crucial role in ­long-term sustainability and environmental impacts. More walking trips and fewer automobile trips reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and street congestion.[5]

[1] Bassett, David R, John Pucher, Ralph Buehler, Dixie L Thompson, and Scott E Crouter. “Walking, Cycling, and Obesity Rates in Europe, North America, and Australia.” Journal of Physical Activity & Health 5, no. 6 (2008): 795-814.

[2] Lee, I-Min M., and David Buchner. “The Importance of Walking to Public Health.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 40, no. 7 Suppl 1 (2008): S512-518.

[3] Frank, Lawrence D, and Peter O Engelke. “The Built Environment and Human Activity Patterns: Exploring the Impacts of Urban Form on Public Health.” Journal of Planning Literature 16, no. 2 (2001): 202-18.

[4] Litman, TA. “Economic Value of Walkability.” Pedestrians And Bicycles 2003, no. 1828 (2003): 3-11.

[5] Rogers, Shannon, H. Halstead, John Gardner, and M. Carlson. “Examining Walkability and Social Capital as Indicators of Quality of Life at the Municipal and Neighborhood Scales.” Applied Research in Quality of Life 6, no. 2 (2011): 201-13.