London is a great city for walking. It's free, healthy and often quicker than public transport for shorter journeys.
Transport for London is working with boroughs and partners across the Capital to encourage walking, as part of the Mayor's policy of 'Making Walking Count'.
Key Walking Routes - voiceover
By linking together key places such as stations, schools and shopping areas, and by overcoming some of the issues that discourage people from enjoying London on foot, Key Walking Routes are making walking an easier and more attractive option across London's boroughs.
Wanstead High Street, Redbridge - Improving Safety
Scott Wilding, Redbridge Officer speaking: The barriers to walking were really the lack of good lighting, the lack of safe places to cross the road and a sense of, and fear of crime. Once we'd installed the lighting, and the CCTV cameras and the safe places to cross the road, it's a much improved area, a much safer place and a place where people want to be. Female member of the public 1 speaking: I think it gives people a generally inviting sort of feeling, and a feeling of comfort. Male member of the public 1 speaking: With the lighting at night, when the winter comes, you worry less about children going home from school. Male member of the public 2 speaking: It makes people feel a lot safer, it can only be a good thing I think.
Scott Wilding, Redbridge Officer speaking: TfL have been extremely supportive, they were able to come along and monitor this scheme both before and after it was completed and give us the tangible results we have today. Pop-ups:
75% increase in pedestrians during the day
Pedestrians up 122% at night
Park perceived to be safer and more inviting
Covent Garden to Bloomsbury Clear Zone Area - Improving the walking environment - Introduction - voiceover
The London Borough of Camden and cities of London & Westminster also considered the whole user experience.
Tim Long, Camden Officer speaking: Walking is the fundamental mode that holds all of London together and makes London enjoyable. The footways have been widened, so where they were congested and cluttered with different bits of street furniture, now they are far more comfortable to enjoy. The public space behind me [Great Queen Street] provides a space for seating, a space for trees, a space for relaxing. It's a whole route that's been improved and people have responded really well to it. The businesses in particular have been very supportive.
Female business owner 1 speaking: People couldn't stand and look at our displays at all. Now, since the pavement has been widened it's made a big difference.
Male member of the public 1 speaking: This crossing [Long Acre and Drury Lane junction] was always a little bit perilous, so its improved that, it looks a lot safer as well.
Female member of the public 1 speaking: Rather than fighting to get on a tube, or waiting a long time for a bus, I think people should make more effort to walk and I think that [this scheme] it will attract people to do that. Tim Long, Camden Officer speaking: I think with this scheme really it's a win-win situation for everyone. The environment is a far more pedestrian friendly environment, so it's easy to walk through, pass through, but it also links clearly with Legible London. We've managed to provide Legible London signage along this route, but it's also more than just walking. We've also built in as many other benefits as we can think of [cycle parking, freight bays and electric vehicle charging points amongst others]. Pop-ups:
Crowding perceptions down 75%
32% increase in female pedestrians
27% felt motor traffic levels had fallen
Redcross Way, Southwark - Involving the community - Introduction voiceover
Schools, residents and businesses have been integral to the success of Southwark's initiative.
Jillian Houghton, Southwark Officer speaking: This project started off as an idea from the community and from our local councillors. They saw a great opportunity to link open spaces and to really make a showpiece of Redcross Gardens, link it with the schools and make it a better place within the neighbourhood. Throughout the project we've really engaged with our community, we've created a space within a street, we've extended green spaces into the street. We've looked at the existing character that the street has, we've given people a lovely journey as they walk through here on their way to work, or as they're coming to do their daily activities at the local shops, or coming to the school. Male member of the public 1 speaking: This is great for a road just outside a school, fantastic! Female member of the public 1 speaking: It's important to listen to the local people, because at the end of the day, they need to use the amenities, they need to use the roads and they need to have safe children. Jillian Houghton, Southwark Officer speaking: We've had some visually impaired people down here who have said there's enough distinction between the levels [of the street] and the colourations [between the pavement and road] we've used to make it easier for them. Yes, I do think it's successful.
Conclusion - voiceover
Transport for London wants to work more with boroughs, private sector partnerships and other landowners, to encourage walking and help London residents and businesses. Get in touch to find out more
Providing people with accessible crossings where they need them makes them more likely to walk.
Improving town centres
People have told us they're keen to walk more but are put off by poor walking environments and car dependency.
As such, we're creating key walking routes in town centres across inner and outer London. We've chosen areas where there's real potential to increase the number of people who walk and how often they walk, and to reduce the number of short journeys made by car and public transport.
These include: Wanstead High Street in Redbridge, Cheapside in the City of London, Portobello Road and Square in Kensington & Chelsea, and Ruckholt Road in Waltham Forest.
Transport for London
