About the initiative

Walkable Cities is a national initiative to improve walkability in our cities at scale. The goal is to use a data + community-led approach to support investment in 'Priority Walking Networks' that offer the highest impact on enhancing safety, comfort, and accessibility for everyone. 

The program addresses a crucial issue: many cities struggle with inadequate or poorly designed footpaths, hindering zero-emission travel and efficient connections to public transportation. Limited road space and municipal budgets exacerbate the problem, making it impossible to repair every footpath. Additionally, the current footpath improvements often consist of disconnected segments, resulting in minimal pedestrian benefits.

Programmatically, the project involves identifying 'Priority Walking Networks' to conduct rapid walkability audits across footpaths and junctions and further generate budget estimations for intervention. By leveraging technology and civic volunteering, the data produced is both high on accuracy and ownership.

The first pilot programme,' Walkable Bengaluru', was launched between March - August '23 in 19 wards in Bengaluru, with audits covering 350 km of footpaths and 185 junctions in 35 days with the support of over 150 volunteers.