The term ‘walkability’ is a (somewhat inelegant) word used to describe the suitability of urban environments for the ultimate slow and eco-friendly mode of transport: walking. Today, walkability is at the heart of societal, environmental, urban, public health and inclusivity issues in towns and villages across France. Offering numerous benefits, the accessibility of public spaces on foot has become, over the years, an absolutely essential topic. Here's why.

Walkability in cities: a public health issue

Physical inactivity is rightly called the scourge of the century, responsible for a decline in neural activity, increased stress and the risk of heart failure, diabetes and musculoskeletal disorders, to name but a few.

According to Onaps (the National Observatory of Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyles), people in their forties spend more than 12 hours sitting down during the week, compared to 9 hours on their days off. The reason? Office work, of course, but also the sometimes excessive use of cars, public transport... and the sofa. Unfortunately, the excuse of the distance between home and work does not hold water in many cases: according to ADEME (the French Environment and Energy Management Agency), almost 50% of journeys of less than 1 kilometre between the workplace and home are made by car, and nearly 40% of journeys made by car are less than 3 kilometres... This is the equivalent of 10 and 30 minutes' walking time respectively.

Adults are, of course, the most affected, but this situation is now spreading to teenagers and children. For example, only 4 out of 10 children now walk to school, even though 45% of them live less than a 20-minute walk from their school. This raises fears of a real pandemic of inactivity-related diseases in the years to come.

If many everyday journeys can be made on foot (going to the market, the post office, school, the cinema, shopping, and sometimes even going to work!), the issue of walkability becomes central. Walking for just 20 to 30 minutes a day can help alleviate many of the health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. This is motivation enough to rethink your daily journeys, opting for a slower mode of transport that is also better for your health! All this while avoiding the stress caused by traffic jams, traffic, driving... It's a great way to approach your daily commute from a more peaceful perspective, conducive to relaxation, daydreaming and a much healthier lifestyle.

The environmental and societal benefits of public spaces adapted for walkability

Walkability: a creator of social ties

What happens to public spaces when pedestrians avoid them? What about neighbourhood gatherings, the creation of community life, social interaction, chance encounters, and social diversity? In an urban space dominated by cars, all these elements, which make our living spaces so charming, gradually disappear. Walkability reopens up a world of possibilities, giving pedestrians the space they need to reclaim their living and traffic space.

Travellers, itinerants, street musicians, neighbourhood residents, shopkeepers, passers-by, children, teenagers, seniors... All come together again in a shared space to recreate the social fabric that is so essential to everyone's well-being.

The economy at the heart of walkability issues

There is a firmly held belief that walkability, and therefore reduced daily car use, is directly linked to a reduction in retail turnover.

However, today's consumption patterns are increasingly favouring local shops. Physical shopping still outweighs the growing interest in e-commerce: according to a study conducted by Bonial, nearly 83% of French consumers prefer shopping in stores, and 87% of those surveyed believe that physical retail outlets play an important role in maintaining a vibrant local community. In addition, 67% of French people are in favour of banning cars from city centres on Saturdays and Sundays.

Finally, according to ADEME, 65% of purchases made in large cities are made on foot, compared to 40% in the suburbs. From there, it's only a short step to promoting walkability in city centres to support local retailers!

And what about the environment?

It is impossible to discuss the challenges and benefits of walkability without mentioning the environmental aspect.

Between reduced car use and a massive reduction in city traffic, the environment, like humans, comes out a winner. While walking produces zero emissions, private vehicles account for 22% of CO2 emissions in France (2019) and nearly 10% of particulate emissions. Promoting walkability would therefore actively contribute to the preservation of our ecosystems, while allowing everyone to make valuable daily savings on fuel costs and private vehicle maintenance.

How is a walkable city defined?

Accessibility and safety: the major challenges for walkability in the future

When the subject of walkability is discussed, issues related to the accessibility of pedestrian areas and ensuring the safety of pedestrians are absolute priorities. Promoting walkability in cities therefore means rethinking the cities of tomorrow in terms of urban planning, traffic, use of space, practicality and, above all, inclusivity.

A walkable city therefore prioritises pedestrians in the use of public space. This involves a number of factors :

- The construction of wide pavements, allowing for smooth pedestrian traffic and better accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM).

- Greater accessibility to amenities (public toilets, baby changing facilities, benches and tables for resting, etc.).

- A clear separation between areas dedicated to pedestrians and those reserved for vehicles, through the installation of green ‘buffer’ areas between these two zones.

- Rethinking car traffic by reducing the speed limit, moving car parks away from the city centre and banning traffic in certain areas.

And so many more!

These are complex issues and challenges, of course, but they are essential if we are to rethink urban occupation by pedestrians while promoting comfort, accessibility and inclusivity for all. Fascinating!

BubblesMapper: committed to inclusive, pedestrian-friendly cities

BubblesMapper is one of a number of initiatives committed to promoting walkability in urban areas: creating a link between city users and retailers, our participatory platform allows everyone to quickly find local amenities that meet their needs. The nearest toilets, changing rooms, water fountains, luggage storage areas, changing areas for young children, etc. All these places, which are essential for well-being in the city and therefore promote greater accessibility for pedestrians, are listed in a mobile application. This allows you to feel more comfortable in public spaces and to explore them with peace of mind when travelling on foot.