Walking and Its Contribution to Objective Well-Being

Walking contributes to well-being in more than health-related ways. This paper adds a new perspective to the walkability agenda by introducing the concept of objective well-being. Objective well-being is the view that our well-being is dependent on the successful development and exercise of our various human capacities. Walking enables unique opportunities to develop our human capacities; opportunities that are absent in driving or commuting. Walking enables a more discerning acquisition of knowledge, opportunity for creativity, for developing our affective and social capacities, and for exercising the capacity to will. Finally, the paper reflects on possible directions for incorporating objective well-being into the walkability agenda.