#Day 10: A Mental Map of Walkable Neighborhoods | 30 Day Mapping Challenge

Can you tell me the route you take from your home to your workplace or school? Some of you who commute every day might find it easy to answer, but not for those who are still unfamiliar or new to the neighborhood.

This ability is also an evolutionary inheritance — allowing us to remember the environment we live in, pay special attention to important details, and overlook less relevant ones — so that we never get lost.

We try to understand our surroundings, perceive distances both near and far, estimate the time it takes to travel — whether quickly or slowly — and recognize landmarks like buildings or natural elements; all of these functions help us build a mental map.

A mental map or cognitive map is how our brain organizes knowledge related to the space we live in.

Interestingly, everyone can interpret the same space differently by highlighting aspects based on their interests or personal experiences of their environment.

A mental map or cognitive map is the way our brain organize knowledge related to the space we live. Interestingly, everyone could interpreted the same space differently by highlighting based on their interest or personal experiences of their environment.

Let’s say my friend and I go on a holiday to a hilly area for three days. On the first day, I am still trying to find my way around, remembering the names of places, figuring out the way back to the villa by noting the signs at each intersection, and noticing the differences from my usual environment.

If my friend and I are asked to draw a mental map on the second day, it is highly likely that our maps will be different. I interpret the surroundings based on my experiences and interests — perhaps I highlight a statue near the main road, but in my friend’s mental map, it is absent. On the other hand, my friend might include a tea plantation behind a row of small shops because she finds the view enchanting. But I might miss it and only draw the small shops.

It is a fun activity to learn more about the personalities of our friends or relatives — what they perceive in their surroundings — then discuss why they include certain places, signs, or features that are absent in other people’s maps. What is the reason? What memories do they have of those places?

A mental map can also serve as useful data when a neighborhood is being redeveloped. For instance, if many residents’ maps show that a certain road segment is overlooked, could it be transformed into a more unique space, such as by adding much-needed amenities for the community?

Additionally, mental maps can help businesses improve their visibility and attractiveness. If ten people are asked to create mental maps and the results show that a shop is not present in people’s minds, it may be a sign to enhance its presence — potentially increasing visitors and sales.

Mental Map of Walkable Neighborhoods

In today’s map, the theme is pen and paper, so I thought that making a mental map would be the perfect idea. I am also still using the walkable city framework to examine whether my neighborhood already serves my daily needs through amenities that can be reached by walking or are within a short distance.

Interestingly, in Indonesia, neighborhoods that fulfill people’s daily needs are already common, especially in kampongs or naturally developed residential areas. I say “natural” because residents build their homes based on their preferences — they may share the same identities, have lived there since birth, or have multigenerational families residing together.

This is different from developer-based neighborhoods, which are first developed, then sold, and only after that do people start living there. Unlike kampongs, where residents have deep-rooted ties to the area, people in developer-built neighborhoods are often new to each other. Houses are typically uniform in design, and the entire area may be developed solely for residential purposes.

In kampongs, neighbors can fulfill each other’s needs by setting up corner shops for daily essentials or small grocery stores. Beyond that, these neighborhoods often include drugstores, fruit stalls, food vendors, vegetable and raw ingredient sellers, mobile phone counters, repair shops for cars and motorcycles, and even hawkers who roam around at specific times.

In contrast, if all the residents in a gated housing complex have similar high-paying jobs, they tend to leave home in the morning and return in the evening. In such a setting, there is little incentive to establish small corner shops because residents can afford to shop elsewhere. However, this can be inconvenient — for example, if someone forgets to buy salt, they may have to drive to the nearest supermarket instead of simply walking to a nearby corner shop.

Another important aspect is creating communal spaces where people can interact, as well as child-friendly areas and green spaces. These spaces can be beneficial but are often absent because they require authoritative intervention — such as collecting funds from residents to build shared spaces. However, they can also be part of government programs, ensuring that neighborhoods have these facilities for free.

My Mental Map of My Neighborhood

Created by Me

So, yeah, I live in a kampong, which is quite perfect for fulfilling my daily needs with easily accessible amenities. Within a comfortable walking distance, I can find food vendors, a corner shop, a mosque, food and vegetable sellers, a drugstore, and many hawkers.

I also love the accessibility of my neighborhood, as I can walk or cycle to special amenities such as a bookstore, mall, department store, ATM, healthcare center, hospital, commuter line station, urban forest, lake or other water bodies, and campus buildings.

It closely matches a mixed-use development, but in reality, it has naturally evolved this way. Since many people live here —in local people houses, boarding houses, dormitories, or shared houses — there is a large customer base, attracting many sellers who are happy to set up businesses. As a result, residents benefit from having their daily needs met within a short distance.

Pedestrian infrastructure in my city is often lacking, and pelican crossings on main roads are rare. So, I feel lucky to have one nearby, allowing me to cross with ease instead of having to hike up a skywalk just to get across a wide main road.

Of course, my neighborhood has its challenges too. Online drivers often park illegally on sidewalks, and minibuses also park illegally on the street. One-way roads are another factor I keep in mind — such as becoming heavily congested in the evening with cars and motorcycles returning from work.

Overall, this is the mental map I have created by drawing it from memory without relying on Google Maps. I may have misplaced certain shops or food vendors, and I use broad lines to represent similar areas, such as houses and boarding houses. However, I clearly remember the shops I frequently visit and where I buy my essentials.