What we do
WalkMassachusetts works to make walking safer and easier in Massachusetts, to encourage better health, a cleaner environment, and more vibrant communities.
Founded in 1990 as WalkBoston, we have created walks, maps and publications; passed legislation; helped write pedestrian design manuals; led the nation’s first Safe Routes to School program, and raised public awareness of the benefits of walking and the need for safe and welcoming streets. In 2023, to better reflect our statewide reach, we changed our name to WalkMassachusetts.
Learn more about our history here.
Vision
We strive to create a Commonwealth where all people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability or lived experience – feel safe, connected and valued on our streets and sidewalks.
To achieve this vision, we have adopted a Strategic Plan with three goals: 1) to advocate for inclusive, safe and enjoyable places for people to walk; 2) to work in places where people walking have the greatest need; and 3) to achieve policy and built environment change that is noticeable, replicable and impactful.
Values
Community: We believe in the power of community. Walkable places foster community spirit, vibrancy and health. Our advocacy is community driven and community empowering.
Equity: We embrace an inclusive definition of walkability that accounts for the lived experiences of all people. We prioritize working in places that have experienced historic disinvestment.
Partnership: WalkMassachusetts never works alone. We partner with community members, local non-profits, municipal and state agency staff, and elected officials to achieve common goals.
Our work
WalkMassachusetts works all across the Commonwealth to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and walkability issues, advance policies that make our streets safe and welcoming for all users, support and empower communities in their own advocacy, and promote innovative solutions.
Five key issues on which we work are:
- Pedestrian safety: Reduce the number of walkers killed and injured statewide.
- Walkable communities: Engage and build community through walk audits and advocacy training.
- Age-friendly walking: Adopt policies and practices that increase safety for children and older adults.
- Transit connections: Promote safe walking connections to transit statewide.
- Walking policy and design: Influence projects and policies from the local to the national level.