Emily Grise

Informative Speech Outline

1) Introduction
a) AGD: “Imagine you’re on a walk...” (story and link to thesis)
b) Thesis
i) Today, I want to inform you about walkable cities
ii) And how they impact those who live in them.
c) Significance
i) Credibility: According to an article by the Congress for New Urbanism, an
organization that provides resources to support the growth of walkable
cities, walkable metropolitan areas only account for 1.2 percent of
metropolitan land area, and only .07 percent of total US land area.
ii) Relevance: This same study ranked Nashville as one of the highest cities
in “future momentum” for making developments towards a more walkable
environment.
d) Preview Statement:
i) What is a walkable city?
ii) Benefits
iii) Drawbacks
e) Impact Statement: Enrique Penalosa, the former mayor of Bogota, Colombia,
said, “Just as fish need to swim, a bird to fly, a deer to run, we need to walk, not
in order to survive, but to be happy.”
2) Body
a) What is a walkable city?
i. The Walkable and Livable Communities Institute describes walkable
communities as ones that “consider persons, not their automobiles, at the
center of the design scale.”
ii. What this looks like – (Steuteville, 2023)
1. Continuity – pedestrian system is consistent throughout city
2. Accessibility
3. Safety
iii. Example of a walkable city
1. Copenhagen - 96,000 square meters designated for pedestrian
spaces (Steuteville, 2023)
b. Benefits
i. Physical Benefits
1. Promotes an active lifestyle - In Copenhagen 50% bike to work in
summer, and 35% in winter (Steuteville, 2023)
2. Reduces risk of chronic conditions – The Center for Disease
Control shows that these habits help reduce risk of chronic
conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease (CDC, 2023)
 ii. Mental Benefits
1. Chemical changes- A May 27, 2023 article on the Keppel health
review, walking increases endorphins that improve self-reception,
lowers stress, and reduces anxiety and depression. (Mader, 2022)
2. Fosters social interaction – This same article shares the results of a
study by Donald Appleyard that found those who lived on streets
with light vehicle traffic had three times as many friends among
neighbors as those living on busy roads. (Mader, 2022)
c. Drawbacks
i. Density – May 29, 2023 article by Bay Management Group
1. Noise/Crowds
2. Limited Housing/Increased Rent
3. Parking Challenges

2) Conclusion
a. Restate Thesis: Today, I told you about walkable cities, and how they impact
those who live in them.
b. Review Statement
i. What is a walkable city?
ii. Benefits
iii. Drawbacks
c. Concluding Statement: These cities that take the walkability of people over
movement of automobiles into consideration show the potential our walks have
compared to the obstacles we saw earlier.

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 8). Physical activity helps prevent
chronic diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/physical-
 activity.htm#:~:text=Regular%20physical%20activity%20helps%20improve,depression
%20and%20anxiety%2C%20and%20dementia.

Freeze, P. (2023, May 29). Pros and Cons of Living in a Walkable Neighborhood. Bay Property
Management Group.
https://www.baymgmtgroup.com/blog/walkable-neighborhood/#:~:text=Increased
%20Density%2D%20Walkable%20neighborhoods%20are,levels%2C%20and
%20potentially%20reduced%20privacy.

Mader, A. (2022, July 31). Health benefits of Walkable Cities. Keppel Health Review.
https://www.keppelhealthreview.com/spring2022/walkable-cities#:~:text=The%20list
%20of%20physical%20benefits,risk%20of%20stroke%20and%20diabetes.&text=The
%20benefits%20are%20even%20greater,and%20reduce%20anxiety%20and
%20depression.

Morris, V. (2023, February 2). US neighborhood walkability influences physical activity, BMI
Levels. SPH US Neighborhood Walkability Influences Physical Activity BMI Levels
Comments. https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2023/us-neighborhood-walkability-
influences-physical-activity-bmi-levels/#:~:text=They%20found%20that%20adults
%20who,in%20neighborhoods%20with%20low%20walkability.

Steuteville, R. (2023, April 4). Ten social benefits of walkable places. CNU.
https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2021/08/12/we-shape-our-cities-and-then-they-shape-
us#:~:text=Reduces%20obesity%20and%20chronic%20disease,%2C%20asthma%2C
%20and%20heart%20disease.

Walkable cities: Connecting people, places, and prosperity. Arch2O.com. (2023, August 23).
https://www.arch2o.com/walkable-cities-versus-unwalkable/