MIT Research Finds Increasing Heat Makes Cities Measurably Less Walkable

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2025/06/25/mit-research-finds-increasing-heat-makes-cities-measurably-less-walkable

by Generalaverage89

10 comments

  2. This is why those “solutions” are anything but.

    More cycling when we are predicting heat domes and regular severe weather?

    More walking when 1/3 of the population is over 60 and 10% over 80?

    People need to be realistic about what is needed, and solutions only useful for fit, young people in fair weather are not sustainable solutions.

  3. Hello from Singapore, where there’s two kinds of walking available to you, year round:

    1 – sweaty

    2 – reaaaally sweaty

    And the population skews more elderly here too.

    Part of the response here to rising urban temperatures has been obvious but effective: the government has built 200+ kilometres of *shading for sidewalks* around the city in recent years. With a target to cover all main thoroughfares within 400 metres of every metro station in the city. Making progress but still more to do.

    This definitely has made the city more walkable on hot days (which is basically all of them) and of course when it’s wet too.

    https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/getting_around/active_mobility/walking_cycling_infrastructure/walking.html

  4. Not only that but the cities disproportionately contribute to their own warming!

  6. That seems to be very obvious. No one likes to walk in heat, but many modern cities are like ovens. So much concrete and dark materials used with not enough green or water.

  9. The heat is stored in the ground and on the hot walls surfaces that face Southwest. 
    The trick is to increase soil coverage and plant a lot of trees on the southwest parts of places and make sure they’re tall and in layers. The soil and the leaves in the trees, shrubbery, helps dissipate heat from the sun. They’re very very efficient 

  10. Walker here. I’ve been using these thin nylon, SPF long-sleeve hoodies that are made for water sports. They are exceptional to walk in when it’s hot and reflect most of the heat and sun. The only problem is that because of the way they are made, they are somewhat tight in the underarm area. Other than that one design flaw, they are perfect.

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