.Jane Jacobs Walk is a series of free neighborhood walking, biking, and transit tours that help put people in touch with their environment and with the people that live in their community. Think of a Jane Jacobs Walk as a moving conversation: a way to engage community members with the people and places that make your city great, or perhaps a way to observe what works and what doesn’t. The focus of a Jane Jacobs Walk can be anything (architecture, local culture and history, city planning, local cuisine, nature, etc.) as long as it gets people walking, observing their surroundings, and connecting with each other.

Anyone can host a Jane Jacobs Walk. All of our events are led by volunteers, either individuals or organizations, who have a passion for the places in which they live, work, and play. If you have an idea for a walk that you would like to host in your city, lets us know and we’ll help you make it a reality. Most Jane Jacobs Walk events take place annually on the first weekend in May to coincide with Jane Jacobs’ birthday.  Jane Jacobs Walks can also be organized and led at any other time of the year by enthusiastic local people or organizations.

A Jane Jacobs Walk doesn’t necessarily have to be a walk at all. Many of our events are bicycle rides, wheelchair rolls, or transit tours. The important thing is to showcase areas of your city, all the while getting people out of their cars, slowing down, and observing their surroundings. Tour guides don’t have to be familiar with Jane Jacobs’ work to lead a tour, but we encourage everyone to find out more by reading her books or consulting our website for more links and primers on her ideas.

Have an idea for a Jane’s Walk in your community? Click on this Host a Walk link or on the image above to register your event. Once registered, a Jane Jacobs Walk Coordinator will contact you in order to help plan, facilitate, and market your event. Hosts will be provided with the administrative resources, infrastructure, network, and inspiration to lead great community tours that energize local residents. If you have questions about hosting an event, please contact us by email at info@janejacobswalk.org. For more specific information on hosting a walk, please check out the More Information for Hosts page.