What Makes a City ‘Walkable’?

A walkable city is one where you can easily go from place to place on foot, like walking from your house to the park or the store.

Imagine your neighborhood is like a big playground, if it’s walkable, it means you don’t need a slide or a swing to get around. You just need your shoes and maybe a friend!

Short trips, wide paths, and lots of fun things nearby are what make a city easy to walk in.

• Wide sidewalks are like big, soft mats that you can walk on without tripping over each other.
• Stores and parks close by mean you don’t have to run all the way across town, just a few steps or maybe a short hop!
• Good lighting at night helps you see where you're going, so you can walk home even after it gets dark.

When cities are walkable, kids and grown-ups both get more exercise. You might even meet your neighbor on the way to the store, like a fun game of tag that happens every day!