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New Cities Recognized as Walk Friendly Communities

People cross the street on a crosswalk and under a HAWK pedestrian beacon signal.

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, June 21, 2022—The Walk Friendly Communities program (WFC) recognizes twenty-three cities and towns from across the U.S. for prioritizing pedestrians and creating safe and inviting places to walk. The WFC designation is awarded based on a detailed review of a community’s sustained efforts to elevate the needs of pedestrians across all areas of transportation programs. These communities also offer examples of steps that other cities and towns can take to improve walkability and safety.

Included among the designated communities are Arlington County, Virginia, and New York City, New York, with Platinum-level designations for their activities. WFC also issued four Gold-level, four Silver-level, and 13 Bronze-level designations.

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New Cities Recognized with “Walk Friendly” Designation

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, May 4, 2021—The Walk Friendly Communities program (WFC) recognized U.S. cities for their commitment to prioritize pedestrians and create safe, comfortable and inviting places to walk. These designations demonstrate a sustained commitment to prioritizing people on foot.

The Walk Friendly Community designations include Gold-level recognition for Decatur, GA, and Madison, WI. Bronze-level designations were given to Roswell, GA, and renewed for Columbia, SC; Arcata, CA, and New Orleans, LA.

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Ten Cities Recognized with “Walk Friendly” Designation

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Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, May 13, 2020—The Walk Friendly Communities program (WFC) recognized ten U.S. cities for their commitment to prioritize pedestrians and create safe, comfortable and inviting places to walk. Continue reading Ten Cities Recognized with “Walk Friendly” Designation →

Webinars for Walk Friendly Communities

With travel limited and in-person training and conferences off the table for now, we’re compiling a running list of online training, networking and learning opportunities related to walking and pedestrian safety.

Organizations like America Walks, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, Vision Zero Network, American Trails, Eno Center, American Public Health Association and the Transportation Research Board are all putting together excellent online sessions that can help communities advance walking and pedestrian safety.

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Ten Years of Walk Friendly Communities

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The Walk Friendly Communities program, now celebrating its tenth year with support from FedEx, recognizes cities throughout the United States for high levels of commitment to pedestrian safety. The program works to encourage walkable cities and towns by raising awareness of those who are promoting walkability and by educating decision-makers through resources and detailed feedback.

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New Walk Friendly Communities Recognized

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C., August 28, 2019—The Walk Friendly Communities program (WFC) recognized three U.S. cities for their commitment to prioritize pedestrians and create safe, comfortable and inviting places to walk. The Walk Friendly Community designations include a Platinum-level designation for Portland, Oregon, only the fourth community to receive that honor. Both Burlington, Vermont, and Bellevue, Washington, were recognized as Silver-level Walk Friendly Communities. Continue reading New Walk Friendly Communities Recognized →

New Cities Recognized with Walk Friendly Designation

Walking Tour of the Wiggle Corridor, SFMTA Photo Department | May 5, 2018

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 16, 2019— The Walk Friendly Communities program (WFC) celebrated its ten-year anniversary with designations for four communities, recognizing their commitment to prioritize pedestrians and create safe, comfortable and inviting places to walk. The designations include a Platinum-level designation for San Francisco, CA, only the third community to receive that honor. Continue reading New Cities Recognized with Walk Friendly Designation →

Walkable Places are Livable Places – Hartford, CT’s iQuilt Plan

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illustration courtesy Veo Veo Design @veoveodesign

Walk Friendly Communities are supported by ambitious and comprehensive plans that tie together their activities to improve their streets. One example of an innovative plan is Hartford, CT’s iQuilt plan, which focuses on the connection between walkability and livability. The iQuilt plan aims to enrich the city through creation of a vibrant, appealing pedestrian network that weaves together the city’s cultural assets. Federal grants have helped the city achieve major objectives in this plan, and implementation of many building blocks of the plan is proceeding in Hartford.

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Walk Friendly Communities on the Road

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Walk Friendly Communities staff  is hitting the road in 2019, and we hope to see you at some of these excellent conferences across the United States.

 Active Living Conference 

When:  February 17-20, 2019

Where: Charleston, SC

Why Walk Friendly: The Active Living Conference convenes representatives from the realms of public health, transportation and beyond on issues relevant to expanding opportunities to bring active transportation and physical activity into everyday life. Walking is critical to healthy, active communities, and this conference is sure to produce big takeaways from both research and practice.

Main Street Now Conference 

When: March 25-27, 2019

Where: Seattle, WA

Why Walk Friendly: Historic, compact downtowns and neighborhoods are some of the most walkable places nationwide and are common in communities of all sizes. The Main Street Now Conference draws from the fields of planning, historic preservation, economic development and government staff/council members for engaging information exchange around enhancing these important districts.  Continue reading Walk Friendly Communities on the Road →