There are many sound reasons why you should include walking as part of a travel plan. Health benefits of walking include reduced risks of heart disease, help with weight control and the maintenance of good mental health. Bear in mind that a significant percentage of employees or visitors to your site may not have the option of driving. Statistics on car ownership reveal that, nationally in 2003, 26% of households did not have access to even one car. In addition, sites that are easily accessible to pedestrians also experience less pressure on car parking space.
Walking all the way can be a real option for those with journeys of 1-2 miles or less to work, and provides the opportunity for building exercise into everyday activities.
You may wish to encourage staff to take a proper break from work at lunchtime, and to get out and about.
Walking is also relevant for those who arrive by car or public transport. The quality and safety of the route from the car park or bus stop and the ease of finding one's way around a site are important factors in improving access to your premises.
Steps to take
We encourage you to examine the location and quality of walking routes in the vicinity of your premises, and on site, and to consider how pedestrians access your site. Where there are issues of safety and of the quality of walking routes on the public highway, we will help you liaise with the relevant section of the local authority e.g. to request the cutting back of overgrown shrubbery, dealing with litter, repairs to street lighting and damaged paving slabs.
Stepping it out
10,000 steps per day, five days a week, is recommended to gain the health benefits from walking. The Travel Plan Network has a small loan collection of Stepometers, that you can borrow for healthy walking promotional campaigns.
Walking the way to Health Initiative (WHI)
We recommend making use of the extensive information available on WHI’s website: www.whi.org.uk .This is an initiative of the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside Agency. Whether you are planning your own promotional activities, looking into the health benefits of walking, or wish to purchase your own stepometers, this is a good place to start.
Take the active route for a better commute campaign
We have developed a campaign to promote walking to work, for more information read our news story.
