Walking, and good walking environments have numerous direct and indirect benefits for individuals and for society. Investing in walking is a huge opportunity for the transport sector and can help reduce carbon emissions, improve health and reduce health care costs, and support more equitable outcomes.
The goal is to elevate walking in transport planning, investment and decision-making, enabling more people to walk more often. Increased rates of walking can reduce transport spending, increase physical activity, improve health and wellbeing, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and increase local economic activity and household savings. All trips involve walking, failure to invest in walking facilities affects all modes and trips not just pedestrian trips.
Realising the benefits of investing in walking and improved pedestrian environments can require investing beyond direct walking facilities such as footpaths and pedestrian crossings. Supporting interventions could include:
It is also important to consider investment in walking separately from investment in cycling. While there are complementary environments that support both modes, separating the funding streams can help identify the amount of funding specifically targeted for walking as well as improving the strategic focus and effectiveness of investment.
