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Walkable cities are often associated with a higher quality of life for the residents and visitors compared to areas that don’t emphasize pedestrian safety. While many people may prefer to walk to their local destinations, the truth is that many communities still lack walkable areas.
With pedestrian accidents on the rise, even small cities see their share of pedestrian accidents. Including Fremont, California which experienced 39 accidents resulting in 5 deaths in 2022. Sadly, nearly 60% of pedestrian deaths occur on high-capacity streets that lack features to improve safety for walkers. Taking a closer look at the benefits of creating walkable cities can help community decision-makers and residents make choices for improving safety in the future.
Improve Physical Fitness
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise, and even people with serious health conditions can often take a short walk to a nearby location. Since walking reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions, it benefits the entire community to make it easier to travel on foot to a nearby restaurant or shop.
Walkable cities may also encourage people to take a short walk after dinner or take their kids for a jaunt to the park, which helps everyone improve their overall health.
Attract More Professional Talent
Urban areas that host large corporate complexes and healthcare facilities sometimes struggle with finding enough people to fill their roles. Professional adults are more likely to view walkable cities as comfortable places to live, which might make it easier to recruit new employees. Bolstering the number of professionals in the area also helps to support greater economic growth for your city.
Boost Local Businesses
In a crowded city, potential customers might choose to stay home to avoid needing to drive through heavy traffic. Opening up more walking paths reduces congestion on the roads. Plus, you’ll find that people tend to visit more businesses when they are easily accessible on foot.
Even needing to cross the street to get from a parking area to a nearby restaurant could deter someone from frequenting a local business. Adding a pedestrian bridge over a busy roadway might be all it takes to see your local businesses thrive.
Drive More Tourism to Your Town
Many people make decisions on where to travel based on the pedestrian-friendliness of a city. Tourists also tend to look up safety reports on specific destinations, and seeing pedestrian injuries and fatalities could steer them away from your city.
Making walkable city spaces allows tourists to picture themselves strolling along as they check out the local shops. Increasing tourism rates can also boost sales tax revenue for your city or town.
Protect the Environment
Lowering greenhouse gas emissions helps to preserve the air quality in your community while protecting our natural resources. Unfortunately, transportation is responsible for around 28% of current greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Encouraging walking decreases people’s reliance on using cars and other forms of transportation to help reduce air pollution.
Raise Property Values
Both commercial properties and residential houses tend to increase in property value when people view the area as a healthy place to live and conduct business. Families will often choose a walkable neighborhood over one that lacks continuous walking paths. Businesses will also flock to commercial developments that promote higher sales through increased customer traffic.
Promote Better Overall Mental Well-being
People tend to relax and feel less stressed when they are walking in safe areas. Many pedestrian safety features, such as sidewalks and medians, are decorated with plants and lined with grassy paths that promote a greater sense of happiness. When people walk to a neighboring business, they’re also more likely to arrive in a good mood that enhances customer service and sales.
As you create plans to foster a more walkable community, it’s important to examine all of the features that go into making safe places for pedestrians. On top of installing sidewalks, crosswalks and other safety features, it’s important to educate the community on safe walking and driving habits. By working together, it’s possible to make a walkable community that benefits everyone.