WALK-IN CITY THEORY

General Theory of Walkability,” focusing on the four key factors of

making a city attractive to pedestrians:

Jeff Speck is a city planner and urban

designer who advocates
internationally for more walkable
cities.

“The General Theory of Walkability

explains how, to be favored, a walk has
to satisfy four main conditions: it must
be useful, safe, comfortable, and
interesting. Each of these qualities is
essential an none alone is sufficient. 
 
 General Theory of Walkability,” focusing on the four key factors of
making a city attractive to pedestrians:

•  Useful means that most aspects of daily

life are located close at hand and organized
in a way that walking serves them well. 
• Safe means that the street has been
designed to give pedestrians a fighting
chance against being hit by automobiles;
they must not only be safe but feel safe,
which is even tougher to satisfy. 
• Comfortable means that buildings and
landscape shape urban streets into
‘outdoor living rooms,’ in contrast to wide-
open spaces, which usually fail to attract
pedestrians. 
• Interesting means that sidewalks are lined
by unique buildings with friendly faces and
that signs of humanity abound.
 General Theory of Walkability,” focusing on the four key factors
of making a city attractive to pedestrians:

He argues that, more than a utopian

notion, the walkable city is a practical
solution to a number of problems that
affect both our daily lives as individuals
and our economic, environmental, and
cultural health as a society. He writes:

“These fixes simply give pedestrians a fighting

chance, while also embracing bikes, enhancing
transit, and making downtown living attractive
to a broader range of people. Most are not
expensive — some require little more than
yellow paint. Each one individually makes a
difference; collectively, they can transform a
city and the lives of its residents.”
As far as wealth is concerned, walkability is proving to be a
monumental economic draw:

“The economic advantage that has already begun

to accrue to walkable places can be attributed to
three key factors.
• First, for certain segments of the population,
chief among them young ‘creatives,’ urban
living is simply more appealing; many wouldn’t
be caught dead anywhere else.
• Second, massive demographic shifts occurring
right now mean that these pro-urban
segments of the population are becoming
dominant, crating a spike in demand that is
expected to last for decades.
• Third, the choice to live the walkable life
generates considerable savings for these
households, and much of these savings are
spent locally.
What is a Walkable City?

Walkability is a new term to describe how friendly a city or a

neighborhood is to pedestrian activity. According to the Walkable
and Livable Communities Institute, walkable communities are
defined as: “they consider persons, not their automobiles, at the
center of the design scale. When we design communities around
the human foot, we create places that are socially,
environmentally and economically vibrant”. 
 Why Cities are Less Walkable?

It is not that we don’t have the desire to walk, but it is more like we can’t. So, it is
important to understand that there are several problems affecting walkability in cities.

• First, the arrival of the automobile and the massive investments in the highway
systems made it feasible to live many miles away from work. Unfortunately, most of
our cities are designed for automobiles and actually discourage people from walking.
A built environment meant for cars may prevent residents from aging in place
(Community AGEnda, 2014).

• Second, the land outside the city is more affordable and offers a blank slate for
development. As a result, decentralization of metropolitan population and centers of
employment to suburban locations, increased travel distance to work, school and
other daily tasks. Subsequently, people become largely dependent on the
automobile (Lehman and Boyle, 2007).

This can be seen in cities across the world which have begun to recognize and address
this problem. The solution lies in the benefits of walkability and the key components to
become more walkable cities.
• Walkability is the key to an urban area’s efficient ground transportation.
Walking remains the cheapest form of transport for all people. Thus, the
construction of a walkable city provides the most affordable and equitable
transportation system, where any community can plan, design, build and
maintain.

• Walkable cities return urban environments to scale, pattern and mix for
sustainability of resources (both natural and economic). They lead to
addressing many social and economic problems through social interaction,
physical fitness, diminishing crime and increasing wellness.

• Walkable cities are livable built environments which lead to whole happy
and healthy lives for the people who live in them. They keep jobs and
attract young adults, families and children. 
 What Makes Walkable Cities?
1. Coherence
 It is a clear, understandable and organized 3. Equilibrium
It is a balance among
sidewalk, street and land use system consistent
transportation modes that
with the scale and function of the surrounding will accommodate and
urban context. The sidewalk and street should link encourage pedestrian
points of interest and activity, provide clean lines of participation in the street
sight and travel and include simple instructive
signage.
 What Makes Walkable Cities?

2. Continuity
 This means a pattern of design and
usage that unifies the pedestrian
system.

4. Safety
It encourages pedestrian protection
from automobiles and bicycles. Also, it
provides adequate time to cross
intersections without interference.
Moreover, it creates physical separation
from fast-moving cars and signalization
protection when crossing.
5. Comfort
It deals with secure and negotiable paving
materials for individual and community
interactions. Sidewalks should provide for a
variety of uses and activities characteristics of
the diverse urban scene.
 What Makes Walkable Cities?

6. Accessibility
 It is the opportunity for all
individuals to utilize the pedestrian
environment as fully as possible.
7. Efficiency
It deals with simplicity and cost-
effectiveness in design and function.
8. Attractiveness
 It means clean, efficient and well-
maintained surroundings, with
adjacent storefronts and activities
that provide sidewalk interest
(Bicycle Federation of America,
1998).
Copenhagen (Denmark) : A City for People
 Copenhagen (Denmark) : A City for People

• Copenhagen is internationally famous for its unique creation of lively

pedestrian streets. Also, it is characterized by its laid back outdoor cafes
and its rich cosmopolitan culture. Copenhagen did not randomly sprout
buildings, roads and streets in a rushed manner. However, as an example,
Stroget is a city located at the nucleus of Copenhagen.
• It consists of a linear collection of four medieval streets that reaches
3,500 feet long. Winding, relatively narrow streets with old, long streets
define this area, producing a mysterious sensation from the tightness and
towering buildings. 1962 was a big year for Stroget, since its main
shopping streets began to convert into a pedestrian promenade. About
96,000 square meters were designated for pedestrian spaces, where cars
were permitted to pass through, only at low speeds.
 Copenhagen (Denmark) : A City for People

• Many unique qualities allow Stroget to be a pedestrianized center. What makes the
street unique to the human eye are the open, stopping squares for formal and informal
entertainments and restaurants or coffee shops, along with food stalls and attractions.
• Also, the street physically provides comfort and protection since the natural anatomy
and configuration of buildings act as wind barriers. One of the best things about
Stroget is that the street is made for everyone and is for all types of crowds.

It brings people from

diverse backgrounds,
cultures and ethnicities
together on the same street.
The presence of people and
activity, along with its
relaxing, carefree
environment and the
presence of various
historical architecture, are
the factors that make people
enjoy walking down Stroget.
 Copenhagen (Denmark) : A City for People

• In addition, the amount of bicyclists is impressive. Half of all people, who

work in central Copenhagen, arrive by bicycle in the summer time. About
70% of those bicycling also bike to work during winter months, despite the
raining and sometimes the icy weather.

Moreover, there is no
apparent discrimination
of bike riders, it varies
from business executives
and fashionable women
to old people, students
and parents with tod
dlers (Ting, 2010).