Briefing: On the move: by foot

Walking or cycling can protect against heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis. By maintaining strength and coordination, helps protect people against falls.

No negative environmental costs. Walking supports public transport. Potential to make short journeys on foot, reducing congestion for road users making longer journeys (although this point would seem to imply a negative impact).

• Most people can walk.

• Three in ten households have no access to a car.

• Access to jobs, education and health is central to social equality.

Walking brings us into contact with public spaces and reinforces social cohesion.

• Make walking more enjoyable.

• Make more short journeys on foot.

• Create attractive places where people want to be on foot.

There are four elements.

• Planning policies and practices.

• Better environment for walkers.

• Support for the choice to walk.

• Institutional framework.

These are now considered in turn.

Distance to destinations is a major barrier to walking, something that has been increased through low-density development. The location of new housing is important.

PPG3 (Housing) calls for sustainable patterns of development by

• putting people first—reduced road widths, speeds, and a safer pedestrian environment

• reducing car dependence by better public transport

• good design.

Government target is that by 2008 60% of new housing will be on previously developed land or conversions.

Hospitals, shopping, schools, leisure, etc. have created longer travel distances and have discouraged walking.

PPG13 aims to encourage walking.

• Locate major trip generators near public transport nodes, and local facilities where they can be reached on foot.

• Developments should offer a range of modes of access.

• Transport assessments.

• Travel Plans.

PPG 6—success depends on the safety and attractiveness of the pedestrian environment.

• Q1 Is further planning guidance needed on walking?

• Q2 Is current practice reflected in guidance?

• Q3 What can be done to ensure that developers provide for pedestrians?

• Specific projects; changed priorities.

• Roads designed for both pedestrians and vehicles.

• Footways of adequate width, clear of obstacles, clutter and rubbish, pavement parking and illegal cycling.

• Crossings where people want to cross.

• Green spaces networks.

• Footways shared by cyclists and walkers.

• Management and maintenance of surfaces, litter control, dog fouling, etc.

• Information for pedestrians.

• Access facilities.

The power to overcome most of these barriers rests at local level, influenced by central government guidance and information.

• National highway and design guidance for streets.

• Pedestrian crossings guidance—revision.

• 20 mph mixed-use roads pilot.

• Integrated street management—by one team.

• Revised DB 32.

• Q4 What are the problems transport authorities have in balancing the needs of pedestrians and other road users? Is guidance needed? Is a guide needed for those streets that are not trunk roads?

• Q5 What changes to policy or practice could address the impact of speeding in rural and urban areas?

• Q6 What basic amenities could increase walking, in addition to more seating and toilets?

• Q7 Would a website to share good practice be worthwhile?

The challenge is to overcome the reasons why people choose not to walk, and to provide encouragement.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is producing guidance. Unpleasant environments increase fear of crime. Street wardens scheme is to be expanded. Reference: http://www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk/psi/psi03.htm

Impacts on parents of young children. Obesity is a consequence: 15% of 15-year-olds are obese; 8·5% of 6-year-olds. Government programmes include School Travel Plans, and Safer Routes to School.

There is a parallel decline in both walking and other forms of sport—due to pressures on leisure time, and an increase in deskbound jobs. Health benefits of walking include reduction in heart disease, 36% of which is attributed to lack of exercise, reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, and osteoporosis; plus benefits to mental health.

• Safe route to school for every child—backed by dedicated revenue funding.

• Expanded street wardens scheme.

• Further campaigns.

• Q8 Is more research needed on what motivates people to walk?

• Q9 What can local government, and central government do to reduce the fear of crime?

• Q10 What can be done to help older people and people with a mobility impairment?

• Q11 How can the NHS influence walking?

Problems include the following.

• No career prospects in creating small-scale schemes.

• Fragmented management.

• Lack of data on use of streets for walking, versus plenty of data on traffic.

• Skills shortages.

• Professional training to include streetscape design.

• Revenue versus capital funding—review priority.

• Address the perceived shortage of revenue funding.

• Community responsibility schemes.

• Flexibility in applying traffic regulations.

• Q12 How can the skills shortage among transport professionals be tackled?

• Q13 Would a regional Walking Development Team to support local authorities be helpful?

• Q14 Would a Walking Projects Fund be helpful?

Possible indicators include the following.

• Proportion of trips under 1 mile on foot + trend.

• School travel modal share.

• Health indicators, for example total population walking for half an hour a day.

• Q15 Which of the above are the best for use locally, and nationally?

• Q16 What in your experience are the most prominent barriers to walking that need to be tackled most urgently?

Key things people apparently need before they will consider walking.

• Places within walking distance.

• Decent routes between key destinations.

• Balance between pedestrians and vehicles.

• Attractive street environment.

• Motivation to work, for example health.

DfT will work with LGA to assess additional costs, and ensure they are fully funded.

Many organisations involved, both private and public, health and education authorities, etc.

• Q17 What campaigns and marketing are needed to promote walking?

• Q18 How can central government ensure that local authorities and other agencies maintain a commitment to the walking environment over time?

• Q19 Where does the primary responsibility lie for addressing the problems identified?

• Q20 What partnerships to promote walking have been effective at a local level and how?