Our Digital Urganism team has developed a Walkability Tool, with which the walkability of neighborhoods and cities in the Netherlands can be measured and compared. And that's not all, because the tool also provides insight into where and how the walkability can be improved.
Walkability as a cornerstone of the healthy mobility transition
Everyone is pedestrian. Every journey starts and ends on foot, and the advantages of walking in general - for both people and the city - are numerous. Walking is inherently sustainable, therefore active modes of transport (both walking and cycling) promotes healthy lifestyle. That is why our R&D team has developed the Walkability Tool as walkability is a choice about how we use space and a necessary condition for a healthy city.
Walkability serves as the cornerstone of the healthy mobility transition in urban planning. It underscores the fundamental reality that every journey begins and ends on foot, emphasizing the need to make walking a safe and convenient mode of transportation. The prosperity of cities often thrives at slower speeds and higher population densities, creating an environment conducive to walking. This sustainable mode of transportation not only reduces emissions but also promotes active and healthy lifestyles, addressing concerns like obesity and chronic diseases. In essence, walkability emerges as a vital condition for crafting truly healthy and sustainable cities, nurturing the well-being of their inhabitants and fostering a greener, more efficient urban landscape.
Why it is important?
Walkable cities with data
Our team has developed a Walkability Tool, with which the walkability of neighborhoods and cities in the Netherlands can be measured and compared. And that's not all, because the tool also provides insight into where and how the walkability can be improved. We do this by comprehensive evaluation, taking into account three key aspects: the morphology, quality of life and safety. Building up the score with indicators has the advantage that it is immediately clear to a designer or policymaker what already works well for pedestrians and what needs improvement. For example, the tool can indicate that a neighborhood has too few crossing places, or that the environment offers too few incentives for people to leave the car and walk.
To achieve this, we rely on a meticulously curated set of twelve indicators, blending both quantitative and qualitative data. These indicators are the building blocks of our holistic assessment, ultimately yielding a walkability score for each neighborhood. Our overarching goal with this analysis is to serve as a guiding light for urban development. By shedding light on the walkability of neighborhoods, we aim to contribute to the creation of cities that are not only more walkable but also healthier, safer, and more enjoyable for both current residents and future generations.
Selected indicators with targeted advice
The walkability score is based on indicators that allow for a lot of flexibility. The current set of indicators covers:
- The morphological structure
- The liveability of environment
- The pedestrian safety
If the client has a specific question, indicators may be given more weight or may be omitted entirely. In addition, the client can make additional data available, which can be imported into the tool. This makes it possible to fully tailor the tool to a specific issue or location.
The walkability score is an average of the individual scores of indicators. This makes it clear exactly what needs to be focused on when improving the pedestrian climate.
Key indicator: Sidewalk Width
Sidewalk width of the sidewalk is an important indicator of walkability as it directly impacts the safety and comfort of pedestrians. Wider sidewalks provide more space for pedestrians to walk, reducing the chances of collisions and allowing for greater freedom of movement.
Additionally, wider sidewalks can accommodate a higher volume of pedestrians, which is crucial in areas with high pedestrian traffic. Narrow sidewalks can force pedestrians to walk on the road, which can be dangerous and unpleasant, especially in areas with heavy motorized traffic.
Therefore, a wider sidewalk is generally considered more pedestrian-friendly and can contribute to a more walkable neighborhood
(EXAMPLE of GEMEENTE ARNHEM)
The street/neighborhood-level walkability tool developed allows its user to assess the level of walkability of any street/neighborhood in the Netherlands (analysis), to understand at a fine level why a street/neighborhood has a certain score (insights), to identify priorities when it comes to improving specific streets/neighborhoods in a study area or when it comes to bringing about change on a specific factor that stimulates or limits walkability (strategy), and finally to incorporate scenario modelling to foresee the potential impact of designs on walkability and to make informed choices (design).
Interested in making your neighborhood more walkable? Get in touch with Digital Urbanism team for collaboration!
1/2
