“The conveniences of everyday amenities at your doorstep…” “A vibrant community just minutes away…” “Quick access to everything you need…”

Sounds familiar, right? But what do these statements really mean?

Well they all relate back to “walkability”, one of those real estate buzz words that’s used to measure how friendly and accessible an area is to pedestrians. Considerations like residential density, close proximity to retail and food-related stores, the orientation of buildings towards the street, the prevalence of sidewalks and access to public transportation, are just a few of the important variables to consider when designing a neighbourhood conducive to a healthy, active lifestyle. And if you build it, they will come. People that is. They will walk, bike, sit, linger, stroll, roll, run…and the existence and movement of these people is what truly shapes a society. It creates a raw energy, a vibrancy and it sustains the urban fabric. Not to mention the obvious: more walking = less driving = smaller carbon footprint (and probably a smaller waistline!).

I love to reflect back on my year living in Austria. Cherished memories like my ritualistic walk from the university along the Danube into town; discovering the outdoor Christmas market in the main square and exploring the huts filled with food and crafts; window shopping and marveling over centuries-old architecture while meandering down ancient cobblestone streets. But what I truly remember with such fondness, is the people watching. From the businessman hustling to catch a straβenbahn, and a woman and her new baby reconnecting with a friend at a café, to a painter sitting by the river waiting for the sun to set, and a group of kids playing soccer in a lane…people were everywhere…enjoying life. Austria had the sustainable urban design concept nailed.

So back to the “quick access to everything you need”, now what? I want numbers! I want the facts! At our Drake site in Calgary, we literally measured out the number of steps it took to get to top neighbourhood amenities: Starbucks only 130 steps away, 1410 World Bier Haus 1150 steps (or a 12 minute stroll), 90 steps (less than a minute) to Nellie’s for breakfast… and thanks to sites like walkscore.com, quantifying walkability has become easier. Walkscore.com awards points for amenities - like a restaurant, store, park, school, or library. The number of points depends on the closeness of the amenity, with the most points awarded for those within half a km. Scores 70-89 are considered ‘very walkable’, while 90+ are considered a “walker’s paradise”. My place just off Main scored a perfect 100! What’s your score?

With the weather getting better, now is the time to celebrate our great walkable city. On May 7th and 8th you can participate in Jane’s Walk (janeswalk.net), a series of free neighbourhood walking tours that honour the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer, Jane Jacobs. Jane championed the interests of local residents and pedestrians over a car-centered approach to planning and since its inauguration in 2007, Jane’s Walk is now taking place in almost 70 cities and 9 countries around the world. So lace up those sneakers and get outside!

Krista Shirreff