The Issue

Southern California neighborhoods built after World War II were designed primarily for cars. People who would like to walk to the store, a transit stop, or for recreation frequently find the walking environment unpleasant or dangerous. 

The San Diego region ranks third in the nation (behind New York and Miami) in the percentage of traffic fatalities that are pedestrians (22.5% - double the national average of 11.4%). Sidewalks commonly abut a busy street, or there is no sidewalk at all. Intersections are too wide, or make no provision whatsoever for pedestrians. A generation ago, children walked to school; today this is rare, due largely to poor walking conditions. One result is a drastic reduction in physical activity and a burgeoning obesity epidemic and its associated diseases like diabetes and hypertension. See our slide show on how this problem arose and what we can do to fix it.

Help Your Own Neighborhood

WALKSanDiego can't be everywhere at once, so we rely on neighborhood leaders and concerned citizens to help diagnose walkability problems and request local government action to change dangerous streets and intersections. We've provided tools to help you. See our publications for more information.

Support Our Work

You can help change the world of walking by becoming a WALKSanDiego member, through corporate sponsorship, or by volunteering. All contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Consult your tax advisor for details.  Click here for more information about supporting WalkSanDiego