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The Healthy Lompoc Coalition is working together to assess the walkability of the community Lompoc. Walkability has many components but at the core of this issue is the ablity of pedestrians to safely naviagate city neighborhoods, shopping centers, and school zones.
The Healthy Lompoc Coalition teamed up with California Walks to conduct a thorough evaluation of walkability in Lompoc. This put health professionals, city engineering, and walkability experts all at the same table to learn what could be changed to make our city a safer place to walk.
Pictured here starting out on a walkability audit L to R: Craig Dierling, Wendy Alfsen, Don Deming, Susan Klein-Rothchild, Steve McDowell, Bob Lingl, Margaret Weiss, JoAnne Plummer, Jacklyn Kelly, Fidel Villanueva, Kim Wells, Dena Lara, Teresa McIntyre, and Jody Taylor.
Why Walking Matters
Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.
Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.1 Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15–45.
Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of global warming. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.
More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car.
Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.
Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It's easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive between destinations.
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