Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
A sedentary lifestyle is a trap lurking around every corner, and adopting more active lifestyles is an increasing priority. But what really motivates people to walk? A neighbourhood may offer excellent opportunities to walk to many destinations, but only a few specific routes will actually be perceived as conducive to walking.
As a professor at the School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture at the Université de Montréal, I am seeing significant disparities in walkability across different areas. While accessibility to shops and services is necessary to create healthy living environments, it’s not enough. The safety, comfort and appeal of walking routes are more likely to encourage people to walk.
Accessibility and walkability
Walking is often a convenient way to get to a grocery store or a bus stop, for example. A destination is considered accessible on foot if it is no more than 800 metres away.
The Walk Score indicator allows you to determine the walkability of any address based on the availability of services and shops within walking distance. The term “15-minute city” is also used to refer to environments where people can reach multiple destinations on foot (about one kilometre) or by bike (just under five kilometres) within that time frame.
But the decision to walk also depends on the safety, comfort and the appeal of the route, factors that vary depending on the urban community, its landscape and individuals themselves. These factors are particularly important when walking is an activity in and of itself. This is referred to as walkability or walking potential.
Ensuring safe routes
A neighbourhood with an abundance of retail options along busy boulevards or in shopping centres surrounded by large parking lots can offer several destinations within a 15-minute walk. But walking there is unsafe, since pedestrians constantly share the space with cars. Safety conditions along the route are therefore poor due to the increased risk of accidents.
The poor condition of sidewalks can also hinder walking. For people with limited mobility, broken surfaces or raised concrete slabs increase the risk of falls. For people who use wheelchairs, the transitions between the sidewalk and the street at intersections are often problematic.
Safety levels can also vary by season. For example, snow-covered or icy sidewalks can create barriers to walking for many people, including older adults. If they have no other means of getting around, they run the risk of becoming isolated.
Features of the built environment can undermine the perceived safety of walking routes. Damaged, neglected buildings with few windows convey a sense of danger. In contrast, In contrast, routes through areas that are active throughout the day help create a sense of safety. A recent survey conducted in the United States showed that pedestrians avoid busy streets, but in many neighbourhoods, stores are located along these routes, which forces people to use them.
The perception of safety is particularly important for encouraging children to walk. Even if their school is close to home, the presence of cars in the vicinity and high traffic speeds reduce the safety of the routes to school.
From policies like Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan to the creation of school streets, numerous initiatives have been implemented in recent years to ensure safe and pleasant journeys for pedestrians, especially children.
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Comfortable routes
A clear separation between the sidewalk and vehicle lanes enhances safety for pedestrians. Adding greenery also improves the comfort and appeal of the route. Street furniture plays a similar role: the regular placement of benches, for example, gives older adults the opportunity to take a break during their walk. Finally, lighting designed with pedestrians (and not just drivers) in mind makes it easier to spot potential obstacles along the way and to walk safely after dark.
At intersections, the installation of curb cuts or raised crossings allows pedestrians to cross the street at the same level as the sidewalk, improving comfort and the continuity of movement. Sidewalks wider than two metres also make walking smoother: they allow pedestrians to avoid obstacles (parked bicycles, curbside recycling bins), walk in groups or navigate more easily in a wheelchair.
Conversely, some infrastructure features hinder walking because they increase risks for pedestrians. This is the case with driveways used by cars to access off-street parking. These features are common in areas that are more car-dependent, where off-street parking is ubiquitous.
The joy of walking
The opportunity to encounter other people on the street is also highly valued. Outdoor dining areas, green spaces and public art all help to enhance walking experiences. Canadian cities like Montréal, Vancouver and Toronto offer walking routes that showcase urban murals.
It’s important to go beyond simple functional improvements aimed at making walking routes safer. When designing or redesigning a space, it’s also an opportunity to enhance the enjoyment that walking can provide.
For example, an intersection near a school can be transformed with creatively designed pavement markings, making the walk to school more fun and enjoyable for children.
The promotion of walking has to be a collective effort that involves different urban planning professionals.
Paula Negron-Poblete has received funding from the Fonds de recherche du Québec and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Original source: https://analysis1.mil-osi.com/2026/08/10/beyond-the-15-minute-city-what-really-makes-people-want-to-walk/