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| April 2001 |
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City Council wants more people to walk Walking, as a transport mode and being good for health and recreation, is often underestimated and poorly understood. So the City Council has produced a 34-page pedestrian strategy called A Step in the Right Direction. It is published after public consultation was held on a draft document during 1999 and seeks to improve the pedestrian environment and to encourage people to walk more often, and for health and recreation. The strategy, the first to be drawn up in New Zealand, says that as the city grows and there "are more cars, cycles and pedestrians on the streets it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet all the needs of these different forms of travel". It is intended that the strategy will lead towards a better overall priority for pedestrian needs in the city. "In Christchurch, walking needs to grow as a key transport option in the future," the document says. This is because of increasing population, an increase in the older population for whom walking is beneficial, concerns about the sustainability of the urban transport system and increasing traffic congestion. Walking Facts One fifth of all journeys are on foot. Each year it is estimated that New Zealanders undertake 1080 million pedestrian trips, spend 192 million hours as pedestrians, and cross 2045 million roads on foot. Nationally 30 per cent of people under 20 walk as their main transport mode and 28 per cent of older adults. Christchurch has about 60 organised walking groups, 10 run by the City Council. For copies and further information: contact Michael Thomson, ph 941 8950
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