Why we need to campaign for a good walking environment
Walking is important, as shown by these figures from Sustrans’ Bristol Walking and Cycling Index 2023:
- 55% of residents walked or wheeled at least five days a week, more than any other mode of travel
- 64% of residents want more funding for walking and wheeling
- 80% of residents support the creation of 20-minute neighbourhoods
- Walking in Bristol is estimated to prevent 188 early deaths and 726 serious long-term health conditions each year
Almost a fifth of Bristol’s residents walk to work. Walking is part of almost every journey, too often in surroundings that are unpleasant and unsafe, particularly for the most vulnerable. Walking is an important recreational activity too, especially around the harbour and in Bristol’s green spaces.
Design that works well for walking creates towns and cities that people enjoy and want to live in, and reduces social isolation. In walking friendly towns and cities, people are healthier, high streets thrive and everyone’s quality of life improves.
What we want to achieve
We want to create an environment for those on foot that is:
- welcoming – with well-maintained and generous pedestrian space in attractive surroundings
- safe – designed to be safe and to feel safe from risk of accident or attack
- convenient – with direct routes that are free of unnecessary impediments
- inclusive – usable by all regardless of age, gender, financial circumstances or level of fitness.
We have produced a booklet 50 Ways to Better Walking that lists fifty practical measures to improve the pedestrian environment. It includes measures for implementation by policy makers, planners, businesses, communities, and individuals, and is based on the ten walking-related actions in the Bristol Transport Strategy 2019:
- Identify and enhance walking routes
- Adopt design standards that are inclusive
- Develop walkable communities
- Connect walking to public transport
- Count, monitor, and share information about walking
- Reduce obstructions to walking and implement enforcement measures
- Make walking safe
- Make walking pleasant and comfortable
- Provide walking information
- Support walking through travel planning and enabling behaviour change