Walkable Communities

What Is A Walkable Community?

A walkable community encourages citizens to use their cars less and to choose walking more often. In a walkable community the environment in which people live, work, learn and play supports walking as a form of everyday transportation.

Why are walkable communities important?

Well designed, compact communities, where schools, stores, services and places to work and play are located within a safe and easy walk, reduces the need to drive. Communities that support walking as a primary mode of transportation provide health, environmental, safety, social and economic benefits.

Did you know…

Each year the average Canadian makes 2,000 car trips that are less than three kilometers in length; trips that could easily be made on foot or by bike. When you walk, cycle, skateboard or roller blade these short distances instead of drive, your health and the environment benefits.

Be Aware

• Where You Live & Your Health
• Public Health Agency of Canada - this website describes the role that physical activity plays in disease prevention, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
• The Canadian Lifestyle and Fitness Research Institute - Making the Case for Active Transportation - Information bulletins have been developed for professionals and community members who want to build a case for active transportation in their community. Each bulletin/fact sheet includes evidence that supports the investment of time and resources for active transportation opportunities. They focus on designing communities for moving people and not cars. Recommended actions to increase and strengthen collaborative partnerships for active transportation are also included. All bulletins are available in English and French.

• To learn more about walking to work or school as a means of active transportation visit the icanwalk.ca 

Make it Easy

• Walkscore - type in an address and this site will calculate how walkable the neighbourhood is around that address.  

• I can walk brochure and checklist
  A great tool to explore and rate the walking environment in your community.

   

Be Involved

• WalkON  - a partnership committed to engaging the community in the creation of environments that support walking, of which the health unit is a partner.
• Walkability Checklist – helps to assess the walkability of the community.
• Walkability Toolkit – a resource to help create walkable communities that focus on pedestrian-friendly environments.
• Active and Safe Routes to Schools - promotes the use of active and efficient transportation for the daily trip to school.
• Walk 21 International Charter for Walking - to create healthy, efficient, sustainable communities where people choose to walk.

Speak Out

• Health unit fact sheets – information about active transportation and healthy communities with suggested municipal and provincial actions for improving health through land use planning and community design decisions.
  • A Case for Healthy Communities 
  • A Case for Better Air - Municipal
  • A Case for Better Air - Provincial
  • A Case For Active Transportation - Municipal
  • A Case For Active Transportation - Provincial
• Heart and Stroke Foundation Position Paper - on the built environment, physical activity, heart disease and stroke.

• Walkable Communities
  The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is working with community partners to build healthier communities through active transportation. For ideas and suggestions about what this could look like in your community go to icanwalk.ca and walkON.