Are Walkable Cities A Right Or A Privilege?

I recently moved to a highly walkable city with green spaces and a focus on wellness.

The city I was living in before was spread out. There was limited public transportation and it didn’t allow me to walk where I wanted to. While it still had parks and green spaces, you needed a car to access them.

The contrast has widely improved my health over the month since I have lived in this city. My energy levels are up, and I am enjoying the sunshine. Overall, living in a city where I have access to walking paths, healthy eating, and community has made a difference in my health.

In the public health framework, where you live matters. Your environment is a great predictor of your overall health and the access you have to resources.

So that got me thinking: what would it be like if everyone could live in a city like this? The health of the population would likely improve. Like me, people would become happier, and it would be easier to access resources.

But it also made me consider whether living in a walkable city is a privilege for those who can afford it or a right for all.

A walkable city is a privilege and a luxury if you can afford it

With the cost of living increasing, being able to live in a place that promotes wellness is a luxury.

Living in a walkable city gives access to better food, healthcare, and community resources.

With better access also comes more crowding, and because of this, demand for housing increases the cost of living.

Major cities across the United States have seen a rapid increase in the cost of living, making it unaffordable to live in these large cities.

With average rent being $1750 per month in the United States (and more depending on which city you live in), wages are not keeping up with the increase of rental prices.

Living in a city that is walkable, has public transportation, and better access to green spaces and healthcare is now becoming unattainable for many people, causing them to reconsider where they live.

It should be a right for all

What about those who do not have the opportunity to live in a city like mine? What if they are only able to remain in the city that requires a car, with limited public transportation?

The reality is that unless you are in a major city, your local town likely has limited access to public transportation and requires a car to get around.

However, cars are expensive. The cost of a new car in the United States is $50,000. Car notes are a common monthly expense to afford these vehicles, but depending on how much money you initially put down, your payment can be a large financial burden.

The solution would be to make all cities walkable and have better transportation. But many rural areas are car-dependent and are spread out, making it hard to get around by walking or even biking.

Rural areas would greatly improve if there were better bus systems or ride shares that allowed people to travel to the nearest large town so they can get access to the resources they need.

Cost is the main barrier to this, though. Building public transport systems is expensive for a city, and without the money to maintain them, they can’t continue to run.

What you can afford matters

You can still live in a big city and not afford it. Many cities have different neighborhoods, divided by cost and affordability. While nicer areas likely offer better benefits, neighborhoods that are further from green spaces or have less access to public transportation can affect access. So you could still live in a major city that has all of the benefits of a walkable city, but still not be able to take advantage of them.

Overall, it is a privilege to live in a place where you can easily get around, exercise, have access to healthy foods, and a community. Being able to afford to live in a better neighborhood promotes safety and access to resources. Making this a right for all will take major financial resources and infrastructure that would take years to put in place.

Until then, only those who can afford it can live in the major cities and take advantage of these benefits.