Walkability

I've spent close to 3 weeks in Singapore for a work trip recently.  The city is a gleaming example of prudent, sensible & effective public policy.

Every square-inch of the island has been mapped out, years before, with the room to rework the space if the need arises.

Let's talk about walking, specifically, the decision to walk to your destination and forgo other means of transportation.

Not enough people in Malaysia like to walk. Many blame the weather, the cracked sidewalks or that it's simply much easier to drive or share a ride there.

Their reasons are justified.

However, I'd argue that walkability is the end result of many policies aligning to create just the right environment to inspire people to lace up their shoes and make that walk. These policies are, in no particular order of importance: spatial planning, accessibility, public transportation. Using Singapore as a case study, I'll provide some observations and thoughts.

Spatial Planning: Some thought went into how the streets will be redesigned and carved out. From the width of the actual avenues, to the spaciousness of the sidewalks. For a small island, the economy of space is fully maximized, with most streets having enough room for hedges, plants, flowers, trees & small areas of green. The trees also create shaded areas for respite from the scorching sun.

A combination of spaciousness & greenery makes walking comfortable, at least comfortable enough for me to swing the cost-benefit analysis in favor of walking.

Accessibility: Being able to walk to your destination is one thing; being able to walk comfortably is another. To improve this comfort, streets & roads should be connected with ample ramps, connectors, clearly marked paths, signage, sidewalks & of course, access for disabled persons.

Here, retroactive policy-making is less preferred compared to proactive policy-making: it's best to plan the space and predict how foot traffic will access & use the space in the next 5-10 years.

Public Transportation: Walking is integral to Public Transportation. To get to any station or transportation hub, I'd have to walk there. Getting off the vehicle, I'd have to walk the final leg to my destination. The access to public transportation should be intuitive, easy-to-find & easy-to-navigate.

In sum, walkability is a measure of good, proactive policy-making. It's down to the basics: how easy, comfortable & straightforward it is to walk from Point A to Point B. Spaces should be planned with foot traffic as priority, followed by public transportation & motor traffic.