The Need for Walkable Cities

What does a truly walkable city look like, and how can we get there?

On February 11th, the Oxford Sustainable Finance Student Society, in collaboration with the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development, the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and the ZERO Institute hosted a fireside chat with Bronwen Thornton, CEO of Walk21 Foundation, alongside Prof. Radhika Khosla. The conversation delved into the power of walking to transform cities -- reducing emissions, improving well-being, and fostering more connected communities.

Bronwen Thornton, CEO Walk21, and Prof. Radhika Khosla discuss the future of walkable cities.

Walkability: More than Just Sidewalks

Walking is the most fundamental mode of transportation, yet it is often sidelined in urban planning. Thornton underscored the need for a broader and more inclusive definition of walking -- one that accommodates diverse populations and mobility needs.

A major theme of the discussion was how walking extends beyond the presence of sidewalks. "Walking isn't just about moving from Point A to B; it's about the quality of the experience," Thornton emphasized. Infrastructure like wide, well-maintained sidewalks, green spaces, and pedestrian-friendly public transit connections determine whether people choose to walk -- or feel forced to rely on cars.

The Political and Economic Landscape

One of the biggest obstacles to walkable cities? The entrenched economic and political structures built around car dominance. Thornton highlighted how major industries have shaped urban landscapes to prioritize vehicles, making it difficult to shift policies in favor of pedestrians.

However, she stressed that walkability can -- and should -- be framed in ways that resonate with policymakers. For instance, promoting pedestrian-friendly environments as a benefit for families and children can drive stronger political will. Thornton cited Manhattan's Times Square transformation as an example of how quirkiness and bold initiatives can capture public attention and political support. Meanwhile, in Chennai, policymakers who had never walked in their own city have started a journey towards providing fair and safe walkability for all residents, demonstrating the power of firsthand experience and participatory planning.

Lessons from Global Cities

Several cities have successfully embedded walkability into their urban fabric.

• London integrates pedestrian-friendly design into all road redevelopments, ensuring every update makes walking safer and more accessible.

• Vienna continues to move forward in integrating pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit, proving that walkability isn't a one-time initiative but an ongoing, participatory effort.

• Hong Kong exemplifies transit-oriented walkability, with 94% of residents walking to public transit.

• Nairobi allocated 20% of its budget to walking and cycling infrastructure -- but never spent in until COVID-19 and new leadership catalyzed action.

Thornton pointed out that creating walkable cities isn't about eliminating cars but ensuring an equitable distribution of space. "We're not asking for all of it," she said. "But in dense inner cities, we should ask for more." Walkabiilty is not about asking people to walk everywhere, but about creating environments where walking is a safe, viable, and enjoyable option.

Walkability v. Walking Activity: Places with many people walking are not necessarily places with good walkability. Some places with good walkability do not always have people walking on them.

Walkability and Public Transit: A Natural Partnership

Walking is not an isolated mode of transport -- it is the first and last step of most journeys. Yet, it often disappears from data and policy conversations. Public transit systems rely on walkability to be effective; after all, a journey begins at the front door, not at the station entrance. Thornton argued that transportation and climate ministries must collaborate to integrate pedestrian planning into national strategies, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Data also plays a key role. People will walk further if the environment is engaging -- with shops, greenery, and well-lit paths. Yet, standard transit planning measures time savings, while health research measures time spent walking. To create thriving cities, these two perspectives need to be reconciled.

Shifting the Narrative: From Cars to People

A walkable city is not one where cars are banned, but one where people have genuine choices. Yet, car dominance is deeply ingrained in urban development. Car sizes continue to grow, taking up three times their necessary space in cities, sitting idle for most of the day, and contributing to heat islands and high maintenance costs. Thornton challenged attendees to rethink land use: "What if we designed our cities for people first, not cars?"

Campaigning for walkability isn't without resistance. In some regions, opposition groups have generated noise against pedestrian initiatives. Thornton's advice? Hold firm, measure the impact, and demonstrate economic and social returns. Cities that invest in walking see increased local economic activity, better public health outcomes, and improved social cohesion.

Finding Entry Points for Change

To embed walkability into urban planning, we must find leverage points:

• School streets have been a key driver of change, often led by mothers advocating for safer environments for their children.

• Partnerships with health insurers, outdoor advertisers, and public transit operators can align economic and public interests.

• Policy triggers, like COVID-19's impact on urban mobility, can be used to accelerate reforms.

• Mixed-use development prevents urban sprawl and ensures essential services are within walking distance.

Clara Cecil, author of It Starts with a Step, introduces the speakers.

Looking Ahead

As 80% of the world's population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050, redefining quality of life will be crucial. The goal isn't to force everyone to talk everywhere but to provide better choices. Whether it's ensuring safe walking routes around schools, integrating sidewalks and parks into hospital planning (as seen in Munich), or simply widening sidewalks to accommodate vendors and pedestrians, incremental changes can create lasting impacts.

The evening closed with a lively Q&A session, covering political resistance, data gaps, and strategies for embedding walkability into broader urban planning. One striking takeaway came from Enrique Peñalosa's philosophy: "Sidewalks are about democracy." Investing pedestrian infrastructure isn't just about mobility -- it's about fairness, access, and community well-being.

We extend our gratitude to Bronwen Thornton and Prof. Radhika Khosla for an insightful discussion and to our co-hosts for making this event possible. As cities continue to evolve, ensuring walkability remains at the heart of urban planning will be essential to building healthier, more sustainable, and more vibrant communities.