Walkability in Cities: Right or Privilege

Abstract

This article, focusing on urban planning and sociology, investigates walkability in Mexican cities, analyzing whether it constitutes a right and its impact on livability. Based on the importance of walking in daily life—83.5% of the Mexican population uses it optimally—the article analyzes the historical evolution of mobility and the concept of " walkability ," situating it within the framework of the "right to the city" and analyzing whether it has been embraced as a right by both governments and citizens.
Using a mixed methodology, it combines a literature review and an empirical study. The analysis explores walkability from different perspectives: the right to the city, interaction with public space, and social, economic, and environmental impacts.
Incorporating results to understand the perception of walkability , considering variables such as safety, accessibility, and comfort. It is expected to conclude that good walkability , characterized by pedestrian accessibility, coherent urban design, and adequate public spaces, improves the quality of life and urban livability, positively affecting the social and economic dynamics of the city. The study advocates for urban policies that prioritize sustainable mobility and the right to the city for all inhabitants.