16 Finishing up

Glad you could make it to the end.

Throughout this book, I have explored the concept of walkability and various ways of seeing it. I have also introduced a toolkit for conducting walkability audits at a micro-scale, which can help us identify problem areas and suggest potential solutions for making our neighborhoods more walkable.

If there’s one takeaway I hope you had from this book, it is that walkability is a multifaceted concept that goes beyond the presence of sidewalks or crosswalks; it involves factors which can vary widely depending on the context and the needs of different communities.

Looking ahead, there is much work to be done in designing more such ways to assess walkability, as this is one of the most powerful ways of presenting a case for creating more pedestrian-friendly environments. This requires a collaborative effort between individuals, communities, and policymakers to prioritize pedestrian transportation and invest in research, planning, and design that support walkability. It also requires a recognition of the intersectional nature of walkability, as it impacts different communities in different ways and can exacerbate existing inequalities.

The methods presented in this book offer a starting point for conducting walkability audits and empowering communities to take a more active role in shaping their surroundings. However, they are by no means exhaustive, and there is always room more.

Consider this a first step.