We have long argued the need for comprehensive national walking strategies with clear actions and outcomes, targets, monitoring and evaluation.
There are now a number of plans and strategies prepared by national, regional and local governments, often with the Ramblers input, that include the aim to promote walking as a sustainable transport mode, as well as strategies around physical activity promotion for health (see Promoting physical activity). However none of these has yet delivered the necessary investment, commitment and joined-up thinking necessary to reverse the decline in walking levels.
The distincitveness of walking and its importance to a number of cross-cutting agendas is such that it merits its own comprehensive strategies led by the national governments, separate from but linked to strategies to promote cycling and other forms of sustainable transport and physical activity.
Active Travel Strategy
Published early in 2010 in response to a wider government policy initiative, Building Britain's Future, this strategy was prepared by the Department for Transport in conjunction with the Department of Health. Covering England, it marks a major step in making the links between promoting active travel as both sustainable transport and healthy physical activity. It contains a vision for walking which includes:
- Wherever possible creating an environment in which walking is safe, convenient and enjoyable.
- Encouraging people of all ages to find their feet.
The practical actions included are still limited compared to cycling, however, and the initiatives included are largely those already funded by the Department of Health.
Delivering a sustainable transport system
The Department of Transport's current strategy for England was published later in 2008, the culmination of a process of strategic development that began in 2005 when Rod Eddington was commissioned to examine the long-term links between transport and the UK's economic productivity, growth and stability, within the context of the government's broader commitment to sustainable development.
The strategy contains a number of overall goals relevant to promoting walking including:
- to reduce transport’s emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
- to contribute to better safety, security and health and longer life-expectancy by promoting travel modes that are beneficial to health;
- to promote greater equality of opportunity for all citizens
- to improve quality of life and to promote a healthy natural environment.
The strategy recognises"the value to health that walking and cycling bring, and that there is more to do in this area." However it contains no specific proposals.
The Walking Plan for London
London is the only city in the UK where one authority -- Transport for London (TfL), an agency of the Mayor -- has overall responsibility for running public transport, delivering major transport infrastructure projects, public realm and streetscape enhancements and promoting walking and cycling. TfL's 2004 walking plan is currently Britain's most comprehensive plan of its kind. Following the change of mayor in 2008 it may be that some aspects of the plan are revised, though the current mayor has said he is still generally in favour of promoting walking.
Scotland's national transport strategy
Published late in 2006, Scotland's transport strategy acknowledges the need to promote walking as a sustainable means of transport particularly on short journeys, and the link between active travel and health issues such as obesity, but most of the concrete proposals on active travel are around cycling. The government has also undertaken to produce a specific walking strategy, and to this end carried out a consultation in 2003, but the final strategy has still not appeared.
The Wales Transport Strategy
One Wales: Connecting the nation, the transport strategy for Wales, was published by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2008. It includes a number of cross-cutting aims which made the links between active travel and healthy lifestyles as well as reducing carbon emissions. This was followed in 2009 by a comprehensive walking and cycling action plan which aims to
- Improve the health and well-being of the population through increased physical activity
- Improve the local environment for walkers and cyclists
- Encourage sustainable travel as a practical step in combating climate change
- Increase levels of walking and cycling through promotion of facilities
- Ensure that walking and cycling are prioritised in crosscutting policies, guidance and funding
We will be monitoring progress on implementing the plan with great interest.
National walking action plan
The Ramblers contributed along with a number of organisations to this lobbying document produced in 2004 by Guide Dogs, which outlined the scope of a possible national strategy for walking.
Local authority plans
Some local authorities have published walking or walking and cycling plans and strategies and these are most likely available on their websites, usually under Transport, Streets or Sustainable Transport.
