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Ten Keys To Walkable/Livable Communities
by Dan Burden,
Director, Walkable Communities, Inc.
The following ten items are key indicators (measures) or steps
taken to achieve prosperous, walkable, healthy, livable communities.
No towns or village centers in America today exhibit all of these
measures in whole, comprehensive or complete ways. Rather, the good
towns are organic (springing from the fertile soil of local creativity
and sensibility), and they are progressing toward true walkability
and livability. These towns have crystal clear visions for the future,
and they are in the process of achieving each of these measures.
Many towns with one or two of these keys are moving forward to achieve
success with most or all other measures.
Walkable communities or neighborhoods are destinations. These places
are built with vision, patience, love, common sense, teamwork, and
openness. Walkable communities have shared commitment by diverse
groups of citizens and stakeholders; they are graced with widely
held and firmly developed sense of ownership. When strangers encounter
local residents in walkable communities or neighborhoods, any local
resident can say why the town is good. Citizens of good towns have
well-developed sense of custodianship by a wide range of people.
These walkable communities may not be seen as good places for cars,
but they are very livable and worth finding. These towns are talked
about, celebrated and loved for their uniqueness and ability to
champion the natural environment and human spirit.
- Compact, Lively Town Center (or many compact villages in
larger towns or cities). Buildings frame streets; block lengths
are short. Merchants take pride in their shops’ appearances.
Great varieties of stores offer local products and services. Significant
housing is found at downtown or village center sites. There is
unique and distinct personality or character to the place.
- Many Linkages to Neighborhoods (including walkways, trails
and roadways). People have choices of many routes from their
homes to the center. The most direct paths are walking routes.
All sidewalks are five feet wide, or wider, and most are buffered
from streets by planting strips, bike lanes or on-street parking.
Well-maintained sidewalks are found on both sides of most arterial
and collector roadways. Sidewalks are cleared during winter months
if necessary. Most neighborhood streets have sidewalks on both
sides. Bike lanes are found on most principal streets. Streets
with higher volume or speeds, almost always have bike lanes. Most
streets have good ADA access to and from each block in all directions.
- Low Speed Streets (in downtown and neighborhoods -
20-25 mph common). Most motorists behave well in the downtown
or village center, and near schools, waterfronts, historic neighborhoods,
parks and other public areas, yielding to pedestrians. Motorists
make their turns at low speed. Few places force motorists to stop.
Yield conditions are most common.
- Neighborhood Schools and Parks. Most children are able
to walk or bicycle to school and small nearby parks. There is
limited or no busing of school children, and at least 40% of all
school trips are by foot or bicycle. Most residents live within
_ mile (preferably _ mile) of small parks or other well-maintained
and attractive public spaces.
- Public Places Packed with Children, Teenagers, Older Adults
and People with Disabilities. Many services and facility designs
support and attract many children, teens, people with disabilities
and senior citizens to most public spaces. Public restrooms, drinking
fountains and sitting places are common in many parts of town,
especially downtown.
- Convenient, Safe and Easy Street Crossings. Downtowns
and village centers have frequent, convenient, well-designed street
crossings. Pedestrians using these areas rarely have to walk more
than 150 feet from their direct lines-of-travel to reach crossings.
People crossing at intersections, whether signalized or not, rarely
wait more than 30 seconds to start their crossings.
- Inspiring and Well-Maintained Public Streets. Streets
are attractive, balanced, colorful, with sidewalks, planter strips,
medians, (when appropriate) and handle a diversity of needs. Many
streets feature on street parking and larger volume streets have
bike lanes. Homes and buildings are brought forward, relating
to the street. There is little or no off street parking. Sidewalks
are centered and surrounded with attractive edges, a planter strip
to the street side, and an edge or attractive transition to the
private property.
- Land Use and Transportation Mutually Beneficial. People
understand and support compact development, urban infill, integral
placement of mixed-use buildings, and mixed income neighborhoods.
The built environment is of human scale, with attributes that
invite positive interaction and compliment the surrounding neighborhoods.
Heritage buildings and places are respected. People understand
that small, local stores help create community as well as convenience.
Residents desire and find ways to include affordable homes in
most neighborhoods. Transit connects centers of attraction with
schedules so frequent that times need not be posted. All residents
feel they have choice of travel modes to most destinations. Most
people live within walking distance - 1/2 mile (with the majority
within 1/4 mile) - of 40% of the services and products they need
on daily or weekly basis. These services include small grocery,
pharmacy, hardware, bank, "doc-in-a-box" medical services,
day care, dry cleaning, post office and other essential services.
- Celebrated Public Space and Public Life. Streets, plazas,
parks and waterfronts are fun, festive, secure, convenient, efficient,
comfortable and welcoming places. Suitable places exist to host
parades or give public speeches; and many people take part in
community parades, festivals, outdoor concerts and other public
events. Public space is tidy, well kept, respected and loved.
Many of these favorite places are surrounded by residential properties,
with many eyes-on-the-streets to add security and ownership of
these spaces. These areas have many places to sit. Few or no buildings
have large blank walls, and few or no open parking lots exist
off-street. Any existing parking lots have great edges and greens.
Natural beauty and quality of community environment are not only
appreciated, but celebrated, with annual awards given to best
developers, neighborhood parks, buildings, retailers, and private
placement of new park benches. Barbershop quartets, brass bands,
string quartets, small dance troupes, local theater groups and
other venues for community participation are alive and well. People
can find public places for practice, fun and spontaneous play.
The community has many "green" streets, with trees and
landscaping. The town form respects the need for plenty of green
and open space. Heritage trees line many streets. Development
practices call for street trees and planter strips; homes are
clustered to maximize green space. Trails and passageways through
natural areas are featured in many parts of town. Landscaping
is respectful of place, often featuring native species, drought
resistant plants, colorful materials, stone treatments or other
local treats. In desert and high country areas, many methods are
used to minimize use of water and other precious resources.
- Many People Walking. Many diverse people are walking
in most areas of town. The community has no rules against loitering.
Lingering in downtowns, village centers, schools, city hall, civic
centers, waterfronts and other public places is encouraged and
celebrated. Street musicians and entertainers are welcomed. Children
rarely need to ask parents for transportation, especially to school,
parks and downtown.
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