The Challenge of Bringing Walkability to America's 99 Percent

Kaid Benfield proposes not only more walkable neighborhoods in the United States, where a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle every 7 minutes, but also more walking to reverse the country's alarming obesity trend.

2 minute read

January 17, 2013, 9:00 AM PST

By Jessica Hsu


In Woodbridge, Virginia, U.S. Route 1 looks like just another stretch of road in the country, says Benfield, but "[w]hat you don't see are any but the crudest accommodations for walking." The lack of crosswalks, sidewalks and traffic signals makes this corridor especially dangerous for pedestrians, and those who are hit by drivers are found at fault for "interfering with traffic" under Virginia law. Jay Mallin's Interfering with Traffic documents two men hit by vehicles while trying to cross the road on separate incidents near Route 1. They were charged for interfering with traffic, whereas the drivers were not charged at all. An even worse situation happened in Atlanta in 2011, where a single mother was convicted of homicide after her four-year-old son was killed by a driver under the influence.

"Even if you're not killed or injured, you can't help but find much of suburban American inhospitable to walking," laments Benfield. 13 percent of American children walked to school in 2006, compared to 60 percent in 1973. Laguna Beach refused to participate in International Walk to School Day, and in Montgomery County, Maryland, the local Department of Transportation denied parents' request for a crosswalk because "the safest way is to have them bused to school." Benfield asks, "If walking is no longer safe and convenient in relatively upscale Saratoga Springs and Laguna Beach, how are we going to fix a suburbanizing place whose residents may struggle to afford cars and arguably are even more in need of good alternatives? "

Jeff Speck's Walkable City offers a good start with his "ten steps of walkability" for urban environments, but many areas like the U.S. Route 1 in Woodbridge "are not the kind of prosperous communities where change can occur rapidly and with the degree of investment necessary to do it right." Although an approach still needs to be developed for these places, says Benfield, its imperative that Americans start walking more to reduce obesity and associated risks like heart disease, diabetes and premature death.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in NRDC Switchboard

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

"Altadena - Not For Sale" yard sign in front of burned down house after Eaton Fire in Altadena, California in January 2025.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations

Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

July 7 - Dwell

Dense multistory residential buildings in hilly San Francisco, California.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean

Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

July 7 - The San Francisco Standard

Blue self-driving Ford Transit van shuttle in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US

A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.

July 7 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA