50 Ways to Better Walking booklet launched and welcomed

While COP26 is underway, Bristol Walking Alliance (BWA) has launched a booklet, 50 Ways to Better Walking, to remind policy makers that encouraging walking is an important way to reduce our carbon footprint and help address the climate emergency.

BWA has asked both Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority to allocate a specific budget for walking, and to commit to measuring and increasing walking levels. The Alliance will be presenting the booklet to Bristol City councillors at their Full Council meeting on Tuesday 9 November. West of England metro mayor Dan Norris has offered to meet BWA next month.

Alan Morris, Chair of Bristol Walking Alliance, explained:

“We want to create a pedestrian environment that is welcoming, safe, and convenient for all. 50 Ways to Better Walking sets out how to achieve the walking-related actions adopted in Bristol’s 2019 Transport Strategy. We include measures that need political commitment and funding, and actions for businesses, communities, and individuals too. From designing a sustainable transport scheme to parking an e-scooter correctly, from a London-style pavement parking ban to providing benches as resting places, the booklet reminds us that walking is an inexpensive and healthy mode of transport that is often overlooked. Now is the time to commit to investing in measures to enhance the pedestrian environment. These will benefit individuals, neighbourhoods and the planet.”

Both Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority have welcomed the booklet.

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said:

“As I talked about in my State of the City address last month, we recognise the need to make walking safer and more attractive, as a way of tackling the climate emergency and improving people’s health and wellbeing. This is demonstrated in our ambitious Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and projects like our ambitious programme of pedestrianisation in the Old City and our School Streets pilots. But we know more can be done across the Council’s work, from housing and planning to public health and transport. I look forward to working with the Bristol Walking Alliance and partners to consider taking these proposals forward.”

West of England Combined Authority metro mayor Dan Norris said:

“This is an excellent guide to what needs to be done to make the walking environment more attractive. Making the West of England a more sustainable, greener region was one of my key priorities when I sought election. I think we’re on the right path – I’ve recently launched our Joy in the Journey guide, aimed at helping local people and businesses swap the car for the bicycle or walking; or provide better facilities for active travel. And it’s win-win – active travel helps improve people’s health and wellbeing and helps us do our bit for the planet So I’m looking forward to meeting with BWA, to hearing their ideas and then setting out what more we can do to encourage walking across our region.”

Six Bristol councillors have accepted an invitation from BWA to become walking champions within their political parties. The six councillors are: Cllr Lesley Alexander (Con); Cllr Alex Hartley (Lib Dem); Cllr Philippa Hulme (Lab) and Cllrs Lorraine Francis, Lisa Stone and Christine Townsend (Green). They have collectively welcomed the 50 Ways to Better Walking booklet and promised to promote it.

In a joint statement, the six walking champions said:

“All political parties are committed to encouraging walking as the healthiest and most sustainable form of transport. We welcome this clear account of fifty ways to transform walking in Bristol. We will do our best to make sure the City Council and others take action.”

The booklet was funded by Bristol Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre. Lisa King, Bristol Health Partners’ Chief Operating Officer, said:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of walking for transport and well-being. We were pleased to fund the ’50 Ways to Better Walking’ booklet through our SHINE Health Integration Team which promotes healthy, inclusive neighbourhood environments. The booklet is full of practical ideas to maintain and improve walking for all.”

Download the booklet

Download the 50 Ways to Better Walking booklet. The 50 ways are listed on pages 13 and 14.