The Unexpected Link Between Neurodiversity and Walkable Cities

By Jacob Fewer

If you’re an avid follower of Walkable Ottawa, it should come as no surprise that improving a neighbourhood’s walkability yields a plethora of benefits: healthier communities, lower emissions and stronger local economies to name a few (Thielman, 2016; Marshall, 2009; Litman, 2003). In keeping with this pattern, I’m excited to share my recent Master’s report research, currently under review for publication with the Canadian Planning and Policy Journal, which adds a compelling new layer to this story: active transportation infrastructure isn’t just good for the planet and our bodies, it may also be a key ingredient in making cities more accessible for neurodivergent travelers (Fewer, 2025).

Neurodiversity (Botha, 2024) is the concept that variations in brain function and cognition, such as differences in attention, learning, and sensory processing, are natural forms of human diversity rather than deficits, or disabilities. A neurodivergent person, then, is a person whose cognition diverges in some way from what is considered “typical.”

This study, which combined an environmental policy scan with interviews of university students who identify as having ADHD, explored how neurodivergent people experience travel and how Canadian cities are (or aren’t) planning with neurodiversity in mind. The results paint a picture of a transportation system that, while well-intentioned, often overlooks the cognitive and sensory realities of neurodivergent travelers. One finding stands out especially clearly: active transportation options like walking and cycling may offer the most forgiving, and therefore accessible mobility experience for people with ADHD.

The Results

One of the strongest themes emerging from the interviews was the mental load of trip planning. For many participants, simply organizing a bus trip (ie. checking schedules, estimating arrival times, and preparing to leave) was a significant source of stress. As one student put it, “The biggest challenge is all the steps behind travel… looking at bus times and getting ready and heading out the door.” This barrier means that modes requiring less planning, like walking or cycling, are inherently easier to navigate. In other words, the freedom to “simply go” isn’t just convenient, it’s cognitively accessible.

Forgetfulness also surfaced as a defining characteristic of ADHD travel behavior. Missing a bus stop, leaving behind personal items, or even forgetting to leave on time often turned travel into an unpredictable and sometimes frustrating experience. Active modes of travel, by contrast, mitigate these risks. Walking or cycling offers immediate flexibility: no departure schedules, no risk of missing a stop, and no rigid systems to navigate. For neurodivergent individuals, this autonomy can make all the difference between traveling independently or opting out altogether.

Sensory comfort was another major finding. Many participants described feelings of overstimulation on buses or in crowded spaces. Noise, lights, conversations, and motion sometimes amalgamated into a sensory overload. Walkable neighbourhoods, on the other hand, tend to provide calmer, more predictable environments. The ability to choose a quieter street or a scenic route gives travelers agency over their sensory experience. Urban design features such as tree-lined paths and buffered sidewalks are not only beautiful, but also more accessible for neurodivergent residents.

Importantly, the study’s environmental scan revealed that few Canadian municipalities currently plan for neurodivergence in their transportation or accessibility strategies. Only a handful of policy documents scanned even mention the term “neurodiversity,” and most rely on traditional disability frameworks that focus on physical accessibility. This oversight represents an opportunity: designing with accessibility in mind often results in universally better environments. For example, the same infrastructure that supports someone with ADHD such as clear wayfinding, direct active transportation routes, and quieter transit spaces also benefits parents with strollers, tourists, and older adults.

Figure 2: How Many Canadian Planning Documents Engage with Neurodiversity?

The Takeaway

Ultimately, the findings suggest that investing in active transportation is not just a climate or public health strategy, it’s a powerful tool for cognitive accessibility and social inclusion. For people with ADHD, the simplicity, spontaneity, and sensory control of walking or biking can transform the daily act of getting around from a source of stress into an empowering experience.

So, while urbanists worldwide have long championed walkability for its physical and environmental virtues, this research gives us another reason to celebrate it. A truly walkable city isn’t just one that moves people efficiently, it’s a city that acknowledges a wide variety of cognitive travel experiences and plans for them.

Work Cited

Botha, M., Chapman, R., Giwa Onaiwu, M., Kapp, S. K., Stannard Ashley, A., & Walker, N. (2024). The neurodiversity concept was developed collectively: An overdue correction on the origins of neurodiversity theory. Autism. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241237871

Fewer, J., Collins, P. (2025) Moving Differently: Exploring Neurodivergent Mobility through Scholarship, Lived Experience, and Urban Policy. Queen’s University Master’s Report. Available at: https://qspace.library.queensu.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/811a141c-1ff4-48c8-a6ec-4c1bebaec47b/content

Litman, T. A. (2003). Economic Value of Walkability. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3141/1828-01

Marshall JD, Brauer M, Frank LD. (2009). Healthy neighborhoods: walkability and air pollution. Environ Health Perspect. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0900595

Thielman J, Manson H, Chiu M, Copes R, Rosella LC. (2016). Residents of highly walkable neighbourhoods in Canadian urban areas do substantially more physical activity: a cross-sectional analysis. CMAJ Open. DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20160068