Lead a walk

› Lead a walk

Lucho raps about Jane Jacobs in Toronto 2009 (credit: Emmy Pantin)

Anyone can do it – you just have to care about your neighbourhood

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
— Jane Jacobs, ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’

Jane’s Walk is the street-level celebration of Jane Jacobs’ legacy that combines the simple act of walking with personal observations, urban history and local lore as a means of knitting people together into strong and resourceful communities. Over 10,000 people explored over 315 neighbourhoods across Canada and the United States last year – and we event went global with one tour in Mumbai! This year we expect to be in 65 cities with over 450 tours including such new locations as Dublin, Saskatoon, Bilbao and Los Angeles.

We are inviting you to lead a tour in an area where you live, work or play. It simply involves planning a route, thinking through the stories, places and people you want people to hear about and discuss, then walking participants through it – you decide what’s important. If you like, you can share the guiding duties with a few other resourceful friends or colleagues. Jane’s Walks are meant to be fun and participatory – everyone’s got a story and they’re usually keen to share it.

Jane’s Walks vary widely. One tour might focus on history and architecture and another might be about tracking down the best local samosas and park benches – but they all boil down to being a conversation between people who like talking to their neighbours and learning more about cities. In 2009 Jane’s Walks were led by urban planners, guerrilla gardeners, youth, professors, newcomers, social historians, cyclists, homeless rights activists and former city mayors. Jane’s Walk tour guides have been very creative in encouraging people to get out and explore a wide range of neighbourhoods and regions from the downtown core to the suburbs and exurbs.

All tours are given and taken for free. Jane’s Walk seeks to increase resident engagement in planning processes by connecting residents with others who share concerns and hopes for their communities. It also aids in the process of getting people out of their cars and onto the sidewalks for the basic tasks of daily life, shopping, schools and work. Don’t assume for a moment that a walking tour can only go to places that are picturesque and teeming with tourists. Jane’s Walks are at the best when they strike out and explore, or visit areas not conventionally thought of as ‘walkable’ because it gets people talking about the strengths and weaknesses of various walking environments.

We will handle the big picture publicity, logistics and website management – you need to get the word out with your local networks and friends. We also have helpful resources and ‘tips for tour guides’ available here on the website and through our on-line forum that connects you with Jane’s Walks guides from around the world.

The life and work of Jane Jacobs, a Toronto resident from 1968 until her death in 2006, continue to inspire citizens and planners to look closely at how people live, work and play in their urban environment. Jane’s Walk tour guides don’t have to be familiar with Jane Jacobs’ work to lead a tour. Many of Jacobs’ ideas are common knowledge now but were initially introduced in books such as “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” (1961). Jacobs looked closely at what makes neighbourhoods work, how sprawl could be halted by intensifying existing neighbourhoods, and why old buildings are necessary for social and economic innovation. For more information on Jane Jacobs, see our bibliography on the ‘About Jane Jacobs’ section, or delve into our Jane Jacobs primers.

Check out other sections of the website for more inspiration or tips for leading a walk. Feel free to invent, create and draw outside the lines. Or contact your local organizer