A new report from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) has identified the world’s most walkable cities, with London, Paris, Bogotá and Hong Kong ranking highly. The study assessed nearly 1,000 cities based on proximity to car-free spaces, access to healthcare and education, and the size of city blocks.
London performed strongly across all measures, particularly in the proportion of residents living within 100 metres of car-free areas such as parks and pedestrianised streets. Hong Kong topped this category with 85% of its population within that distance, followed by Moscow, Paris and London.
For access to healthcare and education within one kilometre, Paris led the way with 85% coverage, ahead of Lima, London, Santiago and Bogotá. The third measure, average block size, saw Khartoum rank first, with Bogotá, Lima, Karachi and Tokyo also scoring well.
The report highlighted that walkable cities tend to have lower air pollution, less obesity, fewer road deaths and stronger local economies. However, it warned that most cities remain car-dominated, with US cities particularly poor due to urban sprawl. Indianapolis was the lowest-ranked US city, with only 4% of residents near schools and healthcare.
ITDP director Heather Thompson stressed the need to shift urban space away from cars, especially as the pandemic has encouraged private car use. Researcher Taylor Reich noted that sprawling US cities make walking impractical, even with good pavements. The report recommends dense, mixed-use planning with benches, wide pavements and shade.
Examples of successful walkability improvements include Pune, India, where road redesign prioritised pedestrians, and Bogotá, which created more public space for children than for vehicles. Alexandra Gomes of the London School of Economics praised the study, calling walking a basic right that has often been overlooked in urban planning.
