Abstract:
Walkability is a popular alternative vision to car dependence in American cities; however, inconsistent definitions and a lack of comprehensive measurement tools have impeded action to build walkable neighborhoods. This talk introduces Close (https://close.city/), an interactive web map showing travel times to nearby amenities via walking, biking, and public transit across every block in the United States. I demonstrate how to conduct a travel time analysis using open data sources, then explore findings from a nationwide analysis of Close data. Population density and city design explain much of the variation in travel times across U.S. cities; travel times to key amenities also vary by race/ethnicity, income, and age. I argue that travel time-based metrics are necessary, but not sufficient, for understanding and designing walkable places.
Nat Henry, D.Phil. is the director of Henry Spatial Analysis, a geography consulting firm that conducts spatial research and builds software applications for primarily nonprofit partners. He operates Close, an interactive travel time map for discovering walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly neighborhoods across the United States. Nat previously worked as a Geospatial Research Scientist at UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; his work has been featured in Nature, The Lancet, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Seattle Times.
