Walking Works Promoting Walking to and on your

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 • Improves your STRENGTH • Increases your METABOLISM • Improves your HEALTH • Can change your MOOD • Can increase IMMUNE SYSTEM • Improves CONCENTRATION • Can boost your CONFIDENCE. • Helps manage STRESS • Can improve your SOCIAL LIFE What business reasons are there?

10 Good Business reasons for Walking • Promotes a healthy workforce • Reduces traffic congestion • Supports travel plan targets • Reduces noise • Reduces carbon footprint • Reduces air pollution. • Reduces car parking required • • Reduces business travel costs • Corporate social responsibility Supports public transport use

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)

Active Travel Audits in a nutshell Small groups of staff and students take part Each group assesses a route on your campus and surrounding streets including routes to bus stops, stations The Living Streets facilitator encourages discussion and takes notes

Are walkers and cyclists made 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 q Audits of routes from University of Central Lancashire’s Campus to City Centre, Bus & Rail Stations, School q Involved staff, students, residents, traders q Report has led to investment by council and the University to improve Walking Routes

Promoting Walking to Work Walking Works Living Streets campaign to promote 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. 2. 3. 4. 5. Walk all or part way to work Go on a walking meeting Take a walk at lunch time Walk with a friend 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 Cases 1. 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. ”

Thank You Richard Smith Living Streets Tel 0191 2457329 richard. smith@livingstreets. org. uk www. walkingworks. org. uk