Walk more - and reap the benefits

A plan to encourage Wellingtonians to walk more, and to improve walking facilities and networks, is being released by Greater Wellington for public consultation.

The draft Regional Walking Plan, which replaces and updates Greater Wellington’s existing walking plan, has been developed with input from a range of organisations, including local councils, Living Streets Aotearoa, Regional Public Health, Sport Wellington and several government departments and agencies.

Greater Wellington Chair, Fran Wilde, said the new plan was timely, given people’s increasing awareness of health and environmental issues – and rising oil prices. “By the simple act, for instance, of leaving your car at home instead of taking it to the bus stop or train station, you’re boosting your health and wellbeing, reducing your carbon footprint and saving petrol money all at the same time.”

The plan contains an action programme to: develop the pedestrian network; improve pedestrian access to railway stations; provide for pedestrians in land development; encourage walking to school; influence central government policy; seek adequate funding for walking activities, facilities and education; facilitate information sharing; promote the wider benefits of walking; and improve information for walking trips.

Fran Wilde said the action programme relied heavily on the co-operation of local councils. “Many of our territorial authorities are doing fabulous work to encourage people to get out and about on foot. This plan is a means of co-ordinating all this good work that individual councils are doing, and providing a strong and united voice to influence central government policy and get appropriate funding for walking activities around our region.”

She said a key target of the plan was to lower the rate of pedestrian accidents. “Although walking is one of the safest means of transport, the number of accidents and fatalities involving pedestrians in our region is higher than Auckland and Canterbury, for example. This rate can and must be reduced.”

Submissions close on Monday 19 May 2008.