Walkability of a City

One of the important facets for building sustainable communities is transport and connectivity. Among major cities around the world, Hong Kong has consistently ranked top for transport sustainability in recent years. But in choosing transportation modes, citizens often base their decisions on convenience and financial costs; environmental considerations seldom come into mind. This course aims to bring environmental footprint and social concerns of local transportation to the forefront. The seemingly simple decision of whether a person should walk to school/work will be examined through critical analysis and debate. Low carbon costs of walking will be weighed against complex issues such as priority of different road users, costs of building pedestrian walkways, and effects of roadside pollution for pedestrians to name a few. The interdisciplinary concerns and sustainability of urban planning and public health will be highlighted.

 

The government has made plans to enhance Hong Kong’s walkability, but has walking been prioritized in traffic and urban planning here? How can individuals and the public engage in walkability measures in our city? Selected countries in different parts of the world have made strategic, sometimes radical, changes in their development to enhance transportation sustainability and people’s living quality. Are there things we could learn from these countries for the long-term benefits of Hong Kong? In this course, students will engage in walking trips to explore and identify first-hand benefits, concerns, and risks of walking as a form of active transportation. Students will also critically analyze a sustainable transportation topic of their choice to demonstrate their critical thinking and interdisciplinary approach on the issue.

 

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