At my university in Oklahoma, I recently did a project regarding the differences between transportation in Almaty and my own town, Norman. As an aspiring transportation engineer, the topic of urban transit and how to design cities in a pedestrian friendly manner is fascinating to me. I came to Almaty particularly interested in seeing how the information I gathered online about walkability and public transportation would compare to my lived experience. Almaty has many amazing and innovative solutions that contribute to making it a more walkable city, but there is still much to be desired in the future.
The first thing I noticed upon arriving in Almaty, was the extensive tree coverage along the streets. Despite the intensive heat that Almaty regularly experiences in the summer, this allows pedestrians to stay relatively cool while travelling on foot. In my own town in Oklahoma, trees are rare and almost never placed in a way that allows for shade to reach the sidewalk. Moreover, Almaty has the widest sidewalks I have ever experienced. This makes walking much more enjoyable, as you don’t constantly have to step off to the side to allow room for people on the other side. One issue that accompanies this is the lack of dedicated bike lanes. While present in limited areas, this generally forces people on electric scooters and ebikes to speed past pedestrians on the sidewalk at unsafe speeds.
Despite the fact that there are designated districts for shopping centres, residential, and other single use zones, many areas are mixed use developments. This allows for stores, cafes, restaurants, and more to be within a five minute walk of one’s residence. Some apartment complexes even have mini markets on the bottom floor, making it extraordinarily easy to buy essentials or produce. Many places in America are the result of single-use zoning, which results in suburban sprawl and the necessity of driving to reach a supermarket or restaurant.
The bus system in Almaty is remarkably efficient, and I rarely found myself waiting more than ten minutes for a bus to arrive. Traffic is certainly an issue, and as it gets later in the day the roads become more and more congested. Nevertheless, the bus routes are well designed and it is not terribly difficult to get from one side of town to another. Taxis are far cheaper relative to income here compared with America, which adds another option for certain occasions.
I have yet to take the metro, as there is only one line that doesn’t cover where I usually need to get to. Almaty is actually scheduled to receive two new metro lines within the coming years, along with light rail transit. This could very well ease up much of the afternoon and evening traffic. Overall, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the general walkability and quality of public transport in Almaty. There are minor changes that could be implemented, but I don’t feel as though I would rather commute by a personal vehicle here. This differs immensely from Norman, where it is always an inconvenience to walk or use public transport to get around. Almaty has proved itself to be a leader in walkability in the region, and I’m excited to see how the city continues to innovate.