Where the People Walk: A Global Glance at Walking Rates
The way we move around is shaped by many factors -- the physical environment, culture, technology, and economic status, to name a few. A new report from the engineering firm Arup, "Cities Alive: Towards a Walking World," looks at how motorized cities can become walkable again.
Brandon Donnelly at Network blog Architect This City lifted this image from the report, which shows where walking and driving rates stand today in cities around the world:
The turquoise circles represent % of journeys by walking. On the left is Los Angeles at 4%. And on the right is Istanbul at 48%.
The red circles represent % of journeys by car. On the left is Miami at 79% (with Los Angeles right beside it). And on the right is Kolkata at 2%.
The map in the middle of the circles represents pedestrians killed in traffic crashes per 100,000 people.
I’m not sure where the data was drawn from, but it’s not all that surprising to see a few North American cities clustered towards the left (less walking; more driving).
North America clearly stand out as a car-dependent part of the globe. Any other patterns emerge?
Elsewhere on the Network today: Pedestrian Observations considers how transit agencies might successfully combine "radial" and "circumferential" routes. And World Streets asserts that achieving full gender parity in transportation decision making bodies would be transformative for cities.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Talking Headways Podcast: Sausage Making and the ADA
"It is fundamentally inappropriate to keep charging disabled people twice as much," our guest Ron Brooks says.
The Real Reason Assaults Against Transit Workers Are On The Rise
Hint: it's not just because service has been slashed.
Thursday’s Headlines’ Future Looks Bright
Amtrak Joe's administration is making big strides on rail, although it's lagging behind on EV chargers.
Feds Award $3B for CA High-Speed Rail, and $3B for Vegas-to-LA HSR
"This show of support from the Biden-Harris Administration is a vote of confidence in today’s vision and comes at a critical turning point, providing the project new momentum."
Car Noise Pollution is Worse in Redlined Neighborhoods — And Not Just for Humans
Transportation noise pollution can wreak havoc on wildlife populations, too — and that can have a devastating effect on their human neighbors.
