The current urban lifestyle, centered on vehicles and mass production, has serious consequences for people and the environment. In Brazil, more than 80% of the population lives in urban environments (Embrapa, 2017), and walking is the primary mode of transportation in cities, accounting for 39% of daily trips (2018, ANTP). If we consider that public transport trips begin and end on foot, walking is involved in approximately 67% of daily trips (2018, ANTP).
In 2023, the Instituto Caminhabilidade, with international support from Walk21, is once again hosting the Walkable City Award, which held its first edition in 2021. With a strong jury, the goal is to recognize, map, and reward public projects and initiatives that have improved walkability in Brazilian cities. Note that for this second edition, projects must have been implemented between 2021 and 2022.
“The award has successfully given national projects relevance not only in Brazil but also internationally, serving as references for transforming cities with a focus on people and walking, which encourages more projects of this nature in the country,” says Leticia Sabino, President of the Instituto Caminhabilidade. She notes, for example, that the 2021 winning initiatives were presented at the Walk21 International Conference on Walking.
