Community Walkability Checklist
Walkability refers to how easy, safe, convenient and enjoyable it is to walk in your local neighbourhood, typically within a 10 to 20-minute distance of your home.
We have developed the Community Walkability Checklist to help you observe and recognise the different features of your local area that make it easy or difficult to go for a walk. This might be for leisure/recreation purposes, or to access local shops, services, parks, public transport and other amenities as part of your everyday life.
The Checklist is designed to help you identify features such as:
- footpath conditions
- pedestrian crossings
- shade
- greenery and green spaces
- natural environments
- healthy food
- social opportunities
- public transport
- amenities
- traffic-related safety
- personal safety
- cleanliness
- noise and air pollution, and
- other attributes of the way the area makes you feel.
Access the Community Walkability Checklist:
We have also developed a summary version of the Checklist to allow for a quick and easy check of your neighbourhood. The summary Checklist will then provide you with a Walkability Rating.
Access the Community Walkability Checklist, summary version:
Using the Community Walkability Checklist
You can complete the full or summary Checklist on your next walk and use your feedback to inform your local council about your findings. This may include suggestions for improvements such as footpath maintenance or repair, planting of street trees, installation of rest areas and seating, or other matters.
You may also use your Checklist results to give appreciation to your local council of any positive features and attributes that are being done well in your local area.
You might like to coordinate a targeted community initiative to collect group responses and provide feedback to the council.
Heart Foundation Walking Groups
Heart Foundation Walking Group organisers can use the Checklist to help identify the suitability of a proposed new walking route. The Checklist can help you to note features on which you can report back to your local council on a regular basis. This will enable you to build a strong relationship with the council and improve your walking group experience over time.
Take action
You can also use the results of your assessment to help make improvements yourself where appropriate and possible. Visit our local action page to find out more.
Sign the petition
Alternatively, you may sign our petition to support your local council and elected members in advocating for improved walkability of your neighbourhood. The petition allows you to advocate for improvements that address a broad range of urban design features affecting walkability. This can include:
- land use zoning,
- housing density,
- accessibility to destinations and healthy food,
- street connectivity, transport planning,
- public open spaces
- and more.
Your support can help strengthen efforts by your local council to advocate for investment and policy changes from state and federal governments.
What happens next?
If you complete the digital Checklist, it will be automatically sent to the Heart Foundation and your local council. If you complete the printed version, you can post it, or scan and email a copy to the Heart Foundation and we will forward it to your local Council. Further details are available at the end of the Checklist.
You can also attach your completed Checklist to our petition. If you have used the digital summary version, you can attach your Walkability Rating.
We encourage you to follow up with your local council to see how they can action the results and feedback you have provided. Some of the ways your local council may include your feedback can include:
- incorporating your specific request into the local council’s work program
- informing new policy directions
- inclusion in future funding bids
- integrating your feedback into their state and federal government advocacy efforts.
We also encourage you to please share your successes and any feedback from your local council with us at: HealthyActiveByDesign@heartfoundation.org.au
Privacy Collection Notice – Community Walkability: The information provided in this checklist is being collected by the National Heart Foundation of Australia ABN 98 008 419 761 (Heart Foundation, we, us, our) to provide information for our Community Walkability program as set out in our Privacy Policy available at: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/privacy-policy. If you have any questions about this privacy collection statement or how we handle personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer via GPO Box 9966 in your capital city, privacy@heartfoundation.org.au orby calling 13 11 12. All the information you provide as part of our Community Walkability resources will be forwarded by the Heart Foundation to your Local Council.
Terms of use: This material has been developed by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Heart Foundation) for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have, or suspect you have, a health problem. The information provided is based on evidence available at the time of publication. Please refer to the Heart Foundation website at www.heartfoundation.org.au for Terms of Use.
Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability: The Heart Foundation makes no representation or warranty that the information provided in these resources is accurate, complete, or up-to-date, nor that it is suitable for your particular circumstances. Any use of these resources is entirely at your own risk. If you have any queries or concerns about the information on this website you should seek your own independent advice and always follow the advice of your medical professional regarding walking and your activity levels. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the National Heart Foundation of Australia, its officers, and employees shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or injury arising from your reliance on the information provided. In an emergency or if you identify a safety hazard, please contact triple-zero (000) immediately.
Important Safety and Reporting Notice:
- Safety Reporting: If you discover any safety hazards while walking, please report these directly to your local council as soon as possible. The Heart Foundation does not provide a report on safety hazards or incidents to your local council.
- General Guidance: The information provided is for general guidance only and is not intended to replace professional advice or local council requirements. If you have trouble with physical activity, we advise that you seek advice from a medical or health professional to determine if walking is suitable for you. Only walk if you feel it's safe to do so. This can include consideration of the time of day, weather, heat and other factors.