ITDP Tool provides Global Analysis of Walkability

The Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) has launched Pedestrians First, an online tool allowing urban planners and city officials to compare the walkability of their cities, neighbourhoods and streets.

Walkability is essential for urbanites across the world. From toddlers to senior citizens, the ability to move between home, work and leisure on foot makes the city more accessible, inclusive and democratic. The COVID-19 pandemic exposes the struggle for cities and regions to implement walkability into their mobility agendas.

To gain the benefits of walkability, cities must be planned so that people live within a walkable distance of their destinations. This is particularly critical for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers who are regular users of the city streets.

“COVID-19 has dramatically exposed our inequalities at every level, including options for travel. Those higher on the income scale tend to have access to both walkable neighbourhoods and transport, while those who are lower have neither. It is essential to shift the balance of space in our cities away from cars,”  Says Heather Thompson, ITDP CEO.

As a result, the Pedestrians First guide allows users to compare and learn from best practices in nearly 1,000 metropolitan areas worldwide, which users can explore in an interactive map. The guide also provides recommendations for improving walkways, crossways and shelters on the streets.

The toolkit is accompanied by a written report, click here to read.

Global Best Practices in Walkability infographic