The Bottom-Up Revolution How a Walk Audit Can Build Community and Momentum
Sep 2, 2025
Gioia Calabretta, a graphic design intern at Strong Towns and active member of Livable Lynchburg, shares her fresh perspective on community engagement. She discusses her enlightening experience at a walk audit, underscoring the need for collaboration in advocating for pedestrian-friendly environments. Gioia contrasts the walkable lifestyle of her college days with the realities of car-centric neighborhoods, urging for impactful local changes. Her journey emphasizes the power of community leadership and collective action in transforming urban spaces.
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Meeting Your Movement Locally
- Gioia showed up to a local walk audit she didn't organize and found many people already doing the work locally.
- Meeting them made her feel connected rather than isolated in her efforts.
Campus Habits Shape Longing For Walkability
- Living on a walkable campus revealed a lifestyle she doesn't want to give up despite moving to a car-dependent neighborhood.
- She believes walkability attributes can be brought to her new community through local effort.
Push For One Sidewalk First
- Champion small, concrete changes like adding a sidewalk in your neighborhood to enable everyday walking.
- Start with simple infrastructure that makes it safer for children and elderly people to go outside.
