Jair Navarro, an architect specializing in pedestrian-friendly urban design and an active member of Tijuana Metropolitan Area’s Urban Planning Society (led by Daniel Rivera Basulto), believes a city’s quality of life shouldn’t be measured by the width of its roads or the speed of its traffic, but by the everyday experience of its people.
True urban vitality, he argues, lies in what experts call “walkability”: the degree to which a city’s streets and public spaces are safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for walking. While it may sound simple, walkability is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of meaningful urban transformation.
Walkable cities set in motion a virtuous cycle: more people use the streets, local businesses thrive, social interaction increases, and neighborhoods feel safer. In short, walkability turns streets into lively, inclusive, and productive public spaces.
But achieving this requires more than token sidewalks. Truly walkable cities need wide, accessible pathways; safe crossings; ramps and supports for people with disabilities; clear signage; shaded seating; and universal mobility. Equally important is mixed-use urban planning: neighborhoods where homes, workplaces, shops, and services exist within walking distance of one another.
This kind of integrated design not only makes walking more practical and pleasant, it also strengthens local economies, builds community connections, and removes both physical and social barriers. People navigate the city with greater confidence and a deeper sense of belonging.
International examples support this vision. Walkable districts like Barcelona’s Eixample and central Copenhagen have shown that pedestrian-friendly planning leads to stronger local economies, better public health, and cleaner air. Closer to home, pedestrian corridors in Guadalajara and Mexico City have revitalized cultural and economic life while reinforcing a shared urban identity and sense of community.
Urban vitality comes from social diversity, from children, seniors, workers, students, and families sharing the same streets to enhance urban life and strengthen the community . When cities prioritize cars over people, public spaces become barren and impersonal. Streets lose their role as social hubs and become mere traffic channels.
Tijuana faces clear challenges: disconnected suburbs, neighborhoods without sidewalks, roads designed only for cars, and unsafe public spaces. But it also holds great opportunity. By making walkability a central goal of urban policy, the city can not only improve mobility and safety but also boost local business, strengthen community ties, and enhance public health.
Critical to this effort is integration with public transportation. Walkability and urban mobility are inseparable; every transit user begins and ends their journey as a pedestrian.
Reliable, accessible public transportation, paired with walkable streets, creates a virtuous cycle that benefits everyone, especially those who depend most on city services.
Navarro concludes with the following: urban vitality begins when walking becomes the natural, safe, and enjoyable way to get around. Designing cities for people isn’t just about mobility, it’s about building cities for life.
