POLÍTICAS OPERACIONALES

1. Produce more behavioral outcomes research on the walking correlates.

 As current research has shown, there is great difficulty in accurately identifying what variables are the strongest correlates of the walking behavior. New research and methodologies must attempt to control for many of the mediating factors that affects one’s decision to be physically active in an environment. Building this body of literature will help better inform planners as to what are the most important variables in a walkable environment.

2. Perform additional research on the transportation and recreational benefits of walkability in a built environment.

 Because the research question of whether walkability increases utilitarian or

recreational walking the most is unanswered, additional research must be conducted to test these affects. It is important that both forms of walking are tested within the same community in order to provide a comparison of variables and their impacts on each form. With this information, planners can better understand how walkability is achieving its goals.

3. Generate greater discussion among researchers, planners, and practitioners to improve consistency in definitions and the application of walkability.

 This research has indicated that there is not much consistency between definitions of walkability. Depending on the source, a host of variation can occur when studying the same construct. In order to reduce the problem, researchers, planners, and practitioners must improve discussion among each other to reduce discrepancies in definitions and help improve the application of walkability in the built environment.

4. Require that definitions of walkability provide a range of prescriptions to limit subjectivity but provide aid in implementation.

 Consistency in variables is not the only important piece in implementing walkability. Definitions must be required to include a range of prescriptions for variables in order to limit the opportunity for subjectivity when applying features to a built

environment. Merely listing the need for the presence of narrow roadways does not help in the implementation of walkability.

5. Ensure consistency in walkability audits so that public officials, planners, and the general public all are looking for the same variables.

 While much of the literature surrounding walkability is done by professionals, most of the testing of walkability occurs by public officials, neighborhood planners, and the general public while conducting a walkability checklist in their neighborhood. To further ensure that walkability definitions are consistent with one another, walkability audits must contain the same variables. Attention to the level of detail for each variable in the checklist is also paramount to ensure that all residents are looking for the same types of defining features.

6. Update land use and zoning codes to allow for compact, mixed use development since the success of walkability hinges on these variables.

 The walkability and walking behavior literatures indicate that variables such as mixed land use and the presence of pedestrian facilities are the most essential part of a walkable environment. However many times these types of variables are not allowed to be installed in the built environment due to local law. In order to ensure that these types of variables will be required, land use and zoning codes must be updated to allow for compact mixed use developments.

7. To further encourage utilitarian travel, focus on increased employment densities and a good mix of commercial, office, and retail uses to generate walk to work trips.

 Since one of the main goals of walkability for planners is to reduce automobile use, variables that contribute to this cause must be implemented in a walkable community. The literature proved that higher employment densities and a mix of uses lead to significant increases in walking to work and other transportation walking trips. If planners wish to continue to increase the amount of walking within a walkable environment, they must look farther than only the essential walkable variables and ensure that the many of the encouraged variables, such as higher density, are implemented.

8. Integrate all modes of transportation into walkable environments.

 While walkability is meant to increase walking trips, it is inevitable that individuals will still use the automobile for some trips. Planners must accept this fact and

incorporate the automobile into the site designs of a walkable environment in a manor that will not inhibit walking. Likewise, as much of the literature cited, access to other modes of transportation, such as bicycling and transit, is important in fostering

walking trips. Therefore, planners must ensure that all modes of transportation are fully intergraded within a walkable environment to provide a range of travel options.

9. Increase public awareness of the planning and health benefits of walkability.

 Most individuals are not familiar with the term walkability and do not know the benefits that can be received by such an environment. While implementing

walkability into an environment is a step in the right direction to increasing walking, its success can only go so far. Individuals interacting in these communities must be aware that they have the option to decrease traffic, improve air quality, and improve

their own personal public health by walking more within their environment. It is the planner’s responsibility to ensure that the general public full understands the potential of these environments.

10. Ensure that all populations have access to walkable environments by requiring affordability in housing.

 The benefits of walkable environments should be experienced by all groups of people. However, many new walkable communities that have been built have raised affordability issues due to the high costs of purchasing homes within these

environments, thus pricing out many lower income residents. An environment that fosters walking could potentially most benefit this population since this group of individuals typically do not own an automobile. Therefore, planners must ensure that a variety of housing options, including affordable housing, are available.