By Tom Austin-Morgan

The pedestrian safety charity Living Streets was founded in 1929 as the Pedestrians' Association, and it currently has around 60 local branches and undertakes consultancy work for local authorities nationwide.

Its Walk to School campaign comprises Walk to School Week and the year-round WOW challenge which follows a fun, and educational theme. WOW schools typically see walking rates increase by 23%, with a 30% reduction in cars at the school gates.

Next academic year the theme is ‘Walk with Imagination’ where children will be invited to use creativity to imagine a different walk – or wheel – to school, from soaring through the skies to exploring the depths of the ocean.

This year, National Highways teamed up with Living Streets to help encourage and enable pupils from 15 schools across Yorkshire and the North East to travel to school more sustainably. Throughout May, School Route Audits were conducted by pupils, families, and school staff in their local areas to identify the barriers to walking to school. 

“Following the audits, Living Streets will provide recommendations to the National Highways regional teams on potential improvements that could make it easier for pupils to walk to school, such as community actions,” explains Katherine Holcroft, Head of Major Projects, Living Streets. 

“Pupils from Lane End Primary School in Leeds joined Living Streets on their School Route Audit and made suggestions, such as some artwork and better lighting in the underpass, more bins to tackle litter problems and cutting back shrubbery where it has overgrown.”

Other high-profile campaigns include National Walking Month which falls in May and sees the charity highlight the benefits of walking on health, the environment, and local economies. 

Pupils, teachers and volunteers at Lane End Primary School in Leeds; credit: Living Streets.

A change coming to London’s streets

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has committed to pedestrianise Oxford Street in the capital after Living Streets appealed to all mayoral candidates in 2015. 

Living Streets has also made headway, along with Guide Dogs, on giving power to local authorities to limit pavement parking only to roads which need it. The charity’s work in Scotland has provoked further development, with commitment for cutting pavement parking by the current government.

In addition, Living Streets recently published a report along with consultants, Arup, and another walking, wheeling, and cycling charity, Sustrans, called ‘Walking for Everyone’. The report is designed to support national and local governments including transport and spatial planning professionals, organisations helping to improve the lives of people who may be marginalised, and anyone helping to make walking and wheeling more inclusive.

“There are many successful and inspiring examples where places have made walking and wheeling more inclusive,” Holcroft says. “With the right political will, investment, and knowledge, walking and wheeling can help people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, abilities, and genders.

“While differences exist between different demographic groups, many of the barriers to improve walking and wheeling are shared. Therefore, rather than focusing on the differences between people, this guidance attempts to address common issues and solutions that would benefit many people across different marginalised groups.”

CIHT previously delivered a roundtable with Living Streets on walking and wheeling.

Image: Pupils, teachers and volunteers at Lane End Primary School in Leeds; credit: Living Streets.