Walking Works

Promoting Walking to and on your campus

Richard Smith Head of Business and Consultancy Services

Overview

• Introduction

• What are the benefits?

• What are the barriers?

• How can you promote walking?

Who are Living Streets? Living Streets is the national

charity that stands up for pedestrians.

With our supporters we work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk

Influencing policy

National projects and campaigns

Supporting local delivery

Why Walk to University or College?

What health reasons are there?

10 Good Health Reasons to Walk

• Gives you ENERGY

• Increases your METABOLISM

• Can change your MOOD

• Improves CONCENTRATION

• Helps manage STRESS

• Improves your STRENGTH

• Improves your HEALTH

• Can increase IMMUNE SYSTEM

• Can boost your CONFIDENCE.

• Can improve your SOCIAL LIFEWhat business reasons are there?

10 Good Business reasons for Walking

• Promotes a healthy workforce

• Supports travel plan targets

• Reduces carbon footprint

• Reduces car parking required

• Reduces business travel costs

• Reduces traffic congestion

• Reduces noise

• Reduces air pollution.

• Supports public transport use

• Corporate social responsibility

What are the barriers to

Walking to University or College?

Typical Answers • Distance – It’s too far to walk

• Traffic – The roads are too dangerous

• Time – I don’t have time to walk

• Security – It’s not safe to walk

• Inconvenient – I need my car for work

What are the counter arguments and solutions?

How can you overcome the barriers?

An Active Travel Audit is a way

of evaluating the quality of

routes on and around the

campus from the viewpoint of

people who walk and cycle

(or would like to)

Small groups of staff and students take part

Each group assesses a routeon your campus and surrounding streets including routes to bus stops, stations

The Living Streets facilitator encourages discussion and takes notes

Active Travel Audits in a nutshell

Are walkers and cyclistsmade welcome on site?

• Are there safe, direct routes

• Are there places to sit and relax?

• Are signs and site maps available?

• Is it assumed that you will come by car?

What about routes to your site?

• Are paths, crossings and entrances where they are needed?

• Are they well lit, maintained and easy to use?

• Do people feel safe by day and night?

City Centre Audit Results

Audits of routes from University of Central Lancashire’s Campus to City Centre, Bus & Rail Stations, School

Involved staff, students, residents, traders

Report has led to investment by council and the University to improve Walking Routes

Walking Works Living Streets campaign to promote walking to work

Promoting Walking to Work

Aims of Walking Works

• Encourage employees to walk more

as part of daily commute

• Help employers to promote walking

• Share best practice

Walk to Work Week - 27 Apr to 1 May

Participants pledge to take part online www.walkingworks.org.uk

Challenges

1. Walk all or part way to work

2. Go on a walking meeting

3. Take a walk at lunch time

4. Walk with a friend

5. Walk all or part way home

Tips for Walking Meetings

• Audit the route as preparation

• Find a quieter route

• Be aware of people’s abilities

• 3 – 4 people is a good number

• Take a clipboard for notes

Simple ideas

• Pedometer Challenge

• Umbrellas for loan

• Shoe polish kits

• Shoe repair vouchers

• Walking group, buddies

Promotional Events

Maps, organised walks, park and stride Walk Doctor Advice, Foot Health Checks

Walk Doctor Cases1. Recent convert, she walks 3.5 miles each way to work

“was going to the gym less and less so stopped paying..wanted to see if walk to work was do-able”

2. Active parent, she walks to the station, at work and to school“do a lot more walking since sold car because staff car park shut,spend more time talking to kids now than when took them by car”

3. Running man, he walks to station and then to work“want to try running to work, but need showers & find a more attractive route. .. interested in lunchtime walks too.”

www.walkingworks.org.uk

Richard SmithLiving StreetsTel 0191 2457329richard.smith@livingstreets.org.ukwww.livingstreets.org.uk

Thank You