Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: TOD • Climate Action Plan • Urban Heat Island

Walkability

Term from Urban Planning industry explained for recruiters

Walkability is a measure of how friendly an area is for walking. Urban planners use this term to describe how easy it is for people to walk to shops, schools, parks, and public transport from their homes or workplaces. It includes factors like sidewalk quality, street safety, interesting storefronts, and how connected different paths are. Similar concepts include "pedestrian-friendly design" or "walkable communities." This is important in modern city planning because it helps create healthier, more sustainable, and more vibrant neighborhoods where people don't need to rely on cars for every trip.

Examples in Resumes

Designed walkability improvements for downtown district, increasing foot traffic by 30%

Conducted walkability assessments for 5 neighborhood development projects

Led community workshops on walkable neighborhood design and pedestrian safety

Implemented walkable community guidelines for mixed-use development project

Typical job title: "Urban Planners"

Also try searching for:

Urban Designer City Planner Transportation Planner Community Development Specialist Urban Development Coordinator Planning Consultant Complete Streets Coordinator

Where to Find Urban Planners

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you approach improving walkability in a car-centered suburban area?

Expected Answer: A senior planner should discuss comprehensive strategies including mixed-use zoning, traffic calming measures, connecting dead-end streets, adding sidewalks and crosswalks, and engaging with local businesses and residents. They should also mention funding strategies and policy changes needed.

Q: How do you measure the success of walkability improvements in a neighborhood?

Expected Answer: Should discuss various metrics like pedestrian counts, business revenue changes, resident surveys, safety statistics, property values, and public health indicators. Should also mention long-term monitoring and adjustment strategies.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the key elements that make a street walkable?

Expected Answer: Should mention wide sidewalks, street trees, proper lighting, interesting storefronts, slow traffic speeds, safe crossings, benches, and how these elements work together to create a comfortable walking environment.

Q: How do you balance the needs of pedestrians with other transportation modes?

Expected Answer: Should discuss complete streets approach, traffic calming techniques, shared spaces, and how to create safe interactions between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles while prioritizing pedestrian safety.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What tools do you use to assess walkability?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic assessment tools like Walk Score, pedestrian level-of-service measurements, sidewalk inventories, and simple observation techniques for evaluating pedestrian conditions.

Q: Why is walkability important for communities?

Expected Answer: Should discuss benefits like improved public health, reduced car dependency, environmental benefits, increased social interaction, and economic advantages for local businesses.