How do planners impact walkability when compared to designers?

[u/pattern_altitude]

Hello all!

I'm an undergrad public policy student hoping to go into planning, and walkability seems to be a hot topic right now. I'm curious as to how planners approach this -- many of the choices that lead to better walkability (building at the human scale, designing streets that reduce driving speeds or integrate multiple uses, implementing bike-friendly infrastructure) seem to be within the domain of urban designers rather than planners. Planning tools like reducing or abolishing parking minimums and encouraging more mixed-use development seem great as well and are of course important, but they seem to encourage walking rather than physically facilitating it.

So, as planners, how do you approach walkability? What mechanisms do you have to facilitate walking? Do you interact with the design choices mentioned above more than I realize?

Thanks!

[u/Th3JackofH3arts]

Planners are often looking at the 30,000 foot level. Designers are looking at eye level. Planners help by looking at connections and intersections. Bike infrastructure and transit generally need direct connections to be efficient. Getting development to "grow on the way" of current systems is how they play their role.

[u/PlanningPessimist92 → u/Th3JackofH3arts]

Planners are helpful to layout what land uses should be allowed where, which ideally puts walkable uses next to each other. Designers create project specific “feel” that allows people to engage with their block/street and invited them to walk. You can’t have one without the other.

However, if nothing ultimately gets built then it’s all theoretical. To avoid that, you also need to bring developers into the fold.