Objective:
Ensure that the design of healthy / walkable / livable cities supports full community participation by persons with HMD, including the ability to use cars in order to be mobile.
Main message:
Millions of people have functional limitations in the distance they can walk and the time they can stand unsupported. Recent initiatives to create healthy / walkable / livable cities focus on walking and biking while disadvantaging the use of cars. They emphasize a design of pedestrian-only space with an ideal Walkability Index of 1,320 feet, more than 26 times further than a person with HMD can walk.
“If not for my car, I would never be able to get out.”
Further, they assume that a reasonable “short” walking distance is one-quarter of a mile, or a couple of blocks, or 1,320 feet. Those with HMD need design principles to address their activity limitations:
- Short distances to walk: 35-50 feet, but no more than 70 feet.
- Brief periods to stand: 1-2 minutes, but no more than 5 minutes.
Types of accommodation needed:
- Pedestrian-only areas (like neighborhood centers) designed with no more than a 150-foot radius, with benches to rest every 50 feet.
- Car use and parking close to services supported and protected.
- See suggested accommodation guidelines.
Sample email:
Because of [the reasons for writing], I’m writing to share with you highlights of research on the lived experience of persons with hidden mobility disabilities – those who are able to walk but only a short distance and able to stand unsupported but only for a short time. The specific findings, which are detailed at www.HiddenMobilityDisabilities.com/research-report/ are that:
- Short distance = 35-50 feet, or at most 70 feet
- Brief time = 1-2 minutes, or at most 5 minutes
Requirements to walk further or stand longer have serious health consequences and prevent persons with hidden mobility disabilities from engage in community activities.
Please share these findings with colleagues and other interested parties, especially given that the commonly-used definition of “walkable” (incorporated into the Walkability Index) is .25 miles or 1,320 feet – far beyond the distance that persons with hidden mobility disabilities can walk. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what changes you can effect to improve the ability of persons with HMD to participate fully and effectively in community life, particularly with regard to [the specific changes you are requesting].
Resources to use:
Examples of people to target:
- Urban planners
- Urban staff charged with healthy / walkable / livable city initiatives
- Community groups advocating for healthy / walkable / livable city initiatives