Denver Shakes a Leg

A coalition of urbanists, doctors, and pedestrian enthusiasts are working to improve awareness, participation, and amenities for Denver's walkers. And in the least obese state in the country, their efforts are gaining an audience.

1 minute read

February 14, 2012, 12:00 PM PST

By Irvin Dawid


According to Walk Denver co-founder Gosia King, "Ample sidewalks are crucial...but they provide only the means of access to an environment that must then reward walkers through attractions like shopping and entertainment that cater specifically to foot traffic."

Kirk Johnson writes that King is leading an effort to make Denver a "Walk Friendly Community, a rating list for pedestrian-friendly cities that bestows Seattle its top "platinum-level" rating.

More walkers, whether strolling or striding, in turn reinforce an old idea that Kung said many cities have forgotten: better public health and improved economic life go together.

She knows the former trait well. Upon moving to the U.S. from Poland in 1997, she "got her driver's license and gained 20 pounds".

History plays a key role in pedestrian-friendly cities, as dense Manhattan illustrates. Denver, "founded in the 1850's Colorado gold rush", laid down a street grid to accommodate the streetcar system, creating a dense ring of nearby 'streetcar suburbs'" that could facilitate both walking and transit.

"Denver city planners had already set a goal of having 15 percent of residents get to their jobs on bike or on foot by 2020, up from about 6 percent according to the most recent census survey."

However, it is unlikely that federal pedestrian funds will be forthcoming as both House and Senate transportation reauthorization bills reduced or stripped that provision.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in The New York Times

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

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.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Millbrae BART station.

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City

The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

April 24 - San Diego Post

Spiral ramp on exterior of parking garage in downtown Spokane, Washington.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill

A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

April 24 - OPB

Missouri state capitol dome in Jefferson City, MO.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users

A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.

April 24 - Missouri Independent