Making urban areas better for those who walk can increase footfall and retail spend by as much as 40%, according to a new study published this week by consultant Arup.

 

Its ‘Cities Alive: Towards a walking world’ report also says that built environment professionals must look to design physical activity back into our everyday lives – and even suggests offering economic incentives to encourage people to walk more.

 

This could see modern technology used to track people’s lifestyles and reward pedestrians for being active, through points or money that could be redeemed for goods or services.

 

Forty actions promoted by the study to encourage walking include the temporary removal of cars from a city to create public spaces, reallocating highway lanes for use by non motorised users and improving pedestrian information street signs to help with navigation. 

 

Further measures put forward include redesigning under used car bays as ‘pedestrian havens’ and using smart wayfinding systems to make walking more engaging.

 

Arup associate director Susan Claris FCIHT says: “The report shines a light on walking and investigates the role that walkability plays in developing more liveable, sustainable, healthy, safe and attractive cities.

 

“We hope it will inspire politicians and designers, planners, engineers and technical specialists working in the built environment to take actions to see transformative change in the towns and cities we already have, many of which suffer from being built around the car.”

 

(Photo: Transport for London)