50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets: from the Arup report, Cities Alive – Towards a walking world

The Fast Company article "50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets", calls our attention to a report by the ARUP planning firm, "Cities Alive – Towards a walking world." (Yes, the report is five years old, as is the article.)

It's another confirmation of the need to move towards "walkable city planning" and away from "pedestrian planning" ("Planning for place/urban design/neighborhoods versus planning for transportation modes: new 17th Street NW bike lanes | Walkable community planning versus "pedestrian" planning").

PS.  Last year, when I was writing a piece on Las Ramblas in Barcelona ("Why doesn't every big city in North America have its own Las Ramblas?"), I came across a youtube feed called "Watched Walker," who videos walks in various places.  

I think WW must be based in London, because during the pandemic all the walks are from London.

Last weekend, I watched "Walking the Wet Streets of Rainy London!," and I was amazed at how extensive is the pedestrianized network of spaces in many parts of London.  When I was there a few years ago, I was so rushed, and tired, and didn't have much time to explore so this is something I definitely missed.  I saw a bunch of superlative pedestrianized places, but not the network!

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50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets

1. It helps people live longer 
2. It helps people lose weight 
3. It reduces the risk of chronic disease
4. It makes people happier
5. It improves traffic safety 
6. It brings back “eyes on the street” 
7. It reduces crime in other ways 
8. It makes neighborhoods more vibrant
9. It enhances the “sense of place” 
10. It’s a driver for creativity 
11. It’s universally accessible
12. It fosters social interaction
13. It strengthens community identity 
14. It connects people across generations
15. It builds inclusiveness Traffic infrastructure, such as highways, can physically separate and segregate neighborhoods; better design for walkability makes the whole city more accessible to everyone. 
16. It boosts the economy
17. It helps local businesses 
18. It helps make people more creative and productive 
19. It improves a city’s brand and identity 
20. It increases tourism
21. It encourages more investment 
22. It attracts the creative class 
23. It increases land and property values
24. It activates the street facade
25. It shrinks the cost of traffic congestion
26. It saves money on construction and maintenance
27. It reduces health care costs Inactivity leads to huge health care costs. 
28. It decreases dependency on nonrenewable resources 
29. It minimizes land use
30. It reduces air pollution 
31. It cuts ambient noise 
32. It helps improve urban microclimates 
33. It can improve water management 
34. It makes cities more beautiful 
35. It increases active use of space 
36. It makes better use of space
37. It encourages people to drive less 
38. It also promotes public transit 
39. It increases permeability 
40. It bridges barriers 
41. It makes cities more competitive 
42. It builds political support 
43. It builds engagement 
44. It encourages more stakeholders to participate 
45. It inspires civic responsibility
46. It promotes sustainable behaviors 
47. It helps make cities more resilient
48. It’s a tool for urban regeneration 
49. It allows for flexible micro-solutions
50. It supports cultural heritage