Optimized Walkability in

a Mixed-Use Urban
Neighborhood
Walkability Principles

1. Creating fine-grained pedestrian circulation: Walking five 200-foot blocks through Portland, Oregon, is easy
and comfortable. Walking the same thousand feet on a suburban commercial street, past a single distant building
and no intersections, is very uncomfortable.
Walkability Principles

2. Orient buildings to street and open spaces: In walkable urban environments, buildings are placed right at the edges
of streets and public spaces, rather than being set back behind parking lots or expanses of landscaping because In this
case, pedestrians are isolated from uses and activities, exposed to traffic and forced to walk greater distances.
Walkability Principles

3. Organize uses to support public activity: The way uses are arranged on a site has a major impact on the activity,
vitality, security and identity of surrounding streets and spaces. Active uses (e.g.: retail) should be placed strategically
along pedestrian routes to engage the public and should be designed for transparency and interest.
Secure, private spaces should be placed at site interiors, away from public streets.
Walkability Principles

4. Placement of parking behind or below buildings: Parking is an expensive, space-hungry and unattractive use and
its a key driver of site planning and project finances. It should be provided in multilevel structures where possible and
placed where it will not disrupt pedestrian spaces
Walkability Principles

5. Addressing the human scale with building and landscape details: People experience the built environment at the
scale of their own bodies in space. Buildings should meet and engage people at that scale, with awnings, faade
elements, lighting, signage and other features along sidewalks. Building forms can be broken down or subdivided
visually to lighten the sense of mass.
Walkability Principles

6. Addressing the human scale with building and landscape details: Wide sidewalks that include elements like trees,
lighting, street furniture and public art are the citys connective tissue. In great walking cities like Barcelona and New
York, sidewalks 40 feet wide are not uncommon, but a well-designed 10-foot sidewalk can be adequate in some
contexts. Sidewalks should form a continuous network connected by frequent, safe street crossings.
Walkability Principles

6. Building complete streets: A complete street provides safe, comfortable, attractive and convenient access and
travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users of all ages, abilities and preferences. The design of a
complete street considers both the public right-of-way and the land uses and design of adjoining properties, including
appropriate building heights and the planning of adjoining land uses that actively engage the public street realm.
 http://www.designforwalkability.com
http://www.designforwalkability.com/walkability-principles/
https://carmanah.com/files/docs/Other/RRFB%20Whitepaper_FINAL1.pdf
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