Does Your City Need a Walkability Study? (Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey)
Feb 20, 2024
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Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey discuss the importance of walkability studies for American communities, emphasizing the transformative impact of prioritizing pedestrian safety in urban planning. They explore low-cost strategies for improving walkability, such as replacing traffic lights with stop signs, and address the challenges and benefits of enhancing urban mobility through pedestrian-friendly designs.
Walkability studies enhance downtown areas by prioritizing pedestrian safety and accessibility.
Design interventions, like converting signalized intersections to stop signs, can significantly improve walkability and reduce pedestrian injury crashes.
Deep dives
Introduction of Speck Dempsey Firm and Mission
Speck Dempsey aims to democratize walkability studies across America. Founded by Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey, the firm focuses on providing communities with strategies to enhance walkability and livability. With experiences in urban planning and transportation, they seek to scale up projects that promote safe and pedestrian-friendly environments. By conducting walkability studies, they aim to instigate positive transformations in downtown areas, making cities more walkable and inviting for residents.
Purpose and Approach of Walkability Studies
Walkability studies concentrate on enhancing pedestrian and cycling opportunities in downtown areas. These studies aim to facilitate an increase in walkability, livability, and safety within communities. By reorienting the urban planning framework through the lens of walkability, Jeff Speck emphasizes the importance of creating useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting walking environments. The focus is on downtown areas, considered prime locations for walkability enhancements, with an emphasis on transforming streets to prioritize pedestrian safety and accessibility.
Implementing Design Changes for Walkability
Design changes play a pivotal role in improving walkability, with specific examples such as transitioning one-way streets into two-way thoroughfares. Initiatives like converting signalized intersections to always stop signs significantly reduce pedestrian injury crashes. Strategies like restriping streets and widening lanes for bike networks aim to create safer and more accessible urban environments. These design interventions, often cost-effective and low in implementation barriers, contribute to enhancing the overall walkability of communities.
Engagement and Funding Challenges in Walkability Studies
Despite the transformative potential of walkability studies, challenges in engagement and funding may hinder their implementation. Building community support and engaging local governments are essential steps in ensuring the success of walkability plans. Issues like resistance from public works departments and constraints imposed by state ownership of downtown streets can impede progress. Strategic planning, effective communication, and fostering political momentum are crucial in overcoming barriers and ensuring the implementation of walkability initiatives.
A 'walkability study' can be a powerful tool to help cities and towns identify transformative strategies to welcome and protect pedestrians on their streets — and craft a plan to put those approaches into action. But what would it take to do this critical analysis in every American community that needs it? On this episode of The Brake, we sit down with Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey of the new firm Speck/Demspey, which is trying to do just that. And along the way, we talk about some of the low-cost ways that any community can get a little more walkable, whether or not they bring in the pros. (Hint: it might be time to trade some traffic lights for stop signs.)
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