The Walkability App: Evidence-Based Tool for Inclusive Planning
Key trigger fact
Lack of data on walking needs for specific groups.
Key implementation fact
Easy to use; free for experts and citizens.
Key evidence of success fact
Used in 51 countries to improve conditions for pedestrians.
Key take away
Putting a value on walking needs makes them visible for planning.
Challenge addressed: Identifying hidden barriers to walkability
Planning often lacks data on how public spaces affect different pedestrians. This tool addresses the gap in understanding how age, gender, and personal ability impact walking experiences. Without fine-grained, geo-located data, it is difficult to identify specific areas that require interventions or to understand why certain spaces are perceived as unfriendly or inaccessible to vulnerable populations
Solution implemented: A participatory digital mapping & audit tool
The Walkability App is a systematic method to collect and analyze data on public spaces. It functions as a participatory mapping tool, walking interview questionnaire, or expert audit tool. It captures time, location, and photos of experiences, allowing for "immersive data collection" on the go. It even works offline and includes gamification features to keep community members engaged in the data collection process.
Results achieved: 33 study areas in 7 countries using evidence to drive change
Seven teams were trained by Walk21 in the use of the Walkability App to conduct interviews and use it as an audit tool. Data were collected in 33 study areas amongst seven countries within 500m-radius catchment areas at each public transport hub or station, covering different types of streets and roads within each study area. Overall, a total of 2,867 interviewed participants shared 2,914 walking experiences related to 6,908 environmental determinants. In addition, twelve trained surveyors shared 612 walking experiences related to 845 determinants.
This practice is considered "good" because it provides robust, measurable scales for walking experiences. It has helped cities / municipalities make evidence-based decisions to improve access around public transport stops, schools, and healthcare facilities. By applying human-centered design principles, it highlights the needs of those who walk most—women, children, and people with disabilities—ensuring that access to public transport infrastructure and services is inclusive and reliable.
Lessons learned: Data makes pedestrian needs visible to planners
To be effective, urban mobility planning must be responsive to diverse needs. A key lesson is that combining qualitative experiences (photos/context) with quantitative data (geo-location) allows for a more accurate evaluation of "before and after" interventions. This tool helps regions justify investments by explaining exactly "by how much and for who" a specific infrastructure improvement will provide benefits.
Cross Links
The project Active2Public Transport is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union. The project was initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), Department II/6 in cooperation with klimaaktiv mobil – the Austrian Federal climate protection initiative on sustainable mobility.