Making an area walkable and thus livable will have the following outcomes:

1. Reduced air pollution – walking reduces short car trips, which are 4x more polluting than longer car trips per km.
2. Reduced GHG emissions – GHG emissions are based on fuel use. About 40% of all car trips are less than 3 kms (VATS data), many of which could be substituted by walk trips.
3. Improved local economic development – walking to local activity centres is good for the economy. In most centres a high proportion of all retail expenditure comes from local residents and workers. Walk access to and within activity centres is important.
4. Reduced traffic congestion – cars making short trips during peak hours make up to 20% of the total vehicles on the roads. Walking could replace many of these.
5. Improved public transport patronage – more walking leads to more public transport use, especially when walk access to public transport stops is made safer and easier. 20/2020 cannot be achieved unless walking to and from public transport stops is improved significantly.
6. Improved health outcomes – walking is the best-value form of exercise for the prevention (and cure) of many major health problems including obesity, diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, and others.
7. Improved recreation opportunities – walking is the most popular recreation activity in Melbourne and its potential for growth is significant.
8. Improved social inclusion – walking is free and a mode available to all ages and groups in society, regardless of income.
9. More social cohesiveness – more walking, pedestrian-filled streets and good pedestrian environments encourage social interaction and "community".
10. Improved road/community safety – good walking environments are safer for all users as drivers slow down in "people places" and drivers are safer too.
11. Advantages for people with disabilities – good walking environments are better for people with disabilities, as well as all pedestrians.
12. Advantages for special age groups – good walking environments make it safer and easier for children to access schools and the increasing aging population to reach local services, shops and friends.
13. Accommodating future growth – population growth will increase the need for good walking access (and less local car use) to all destination types (schools, shops, public transport stops, etc). The success of Activity Centre and Transit City policy depends on a mode-shift to active transport.
14. Reduced cost – providing good walking environments and programs that encourage walking are considerably less expensive than building/maintaining roads and car parking spaces.