‘Fall in Love with Walking’ is one of the mantras I developed at Pedestrian Space. Here I am, photographed just a couple of days ago, sporting a sweater I had made with the mantra.
As I say, walking is not only my methodology, but also my medicine and my preferred mode of mobility, as I know it is for many other walkability advocates out there, as well as people who are enthused about or simply prefer walking.
However, this love I have, and the promotion of it, does not exist without keen awareness- and more importantly, concern- that many people are unable, in their towns and cities, to safely choose to move on foot.
Documenting best practices and barriers to walkability (to include public transportation) was the raison d’être for my founding of Pedestrian Space. I love the work of documenting and spotlighting great examples of diverse elements of walkable urban environments. It’s about much more than the sidewalk, but the presence of well-maintained pedestrian infrastructure is a start. I also value being able to comfortably document the barriers and spotlight them for discourse and ultimately – change.
This coming week, I look forward to moderating the panel ‘Step by Step: Walking as a Tool for Urban Change’ on Tuesday at the Kongres Nowej Mobilności | New Mobility Congress (PSNM – We drive new mobility!) and on Wednesday being part of the panel ‘Accelerating Inclusivity and Diversity: Democratizing Mobility’.
-Annika
How is the walkability in your neighborhood, town or city?