Is walking a neglected mode of transport in Bristol?

As cycle paths keep getting removed in Bristol and bicycle users report an increased sense of unease moving around the city, ‘walkable neighbourhoods’ enter the debate on travel.

The Bristol Walking Alliance (BWA) is a city-wide consortium of organisations and individuals who campaign to create an environment that’s “safe, welcoming, convenient and inclusive” for pedestrians.

Dr Suzanne Audrey, a senior research fellow in public health and member of BWA, has questioned whether walking is a neglected mode of transport.

“There’s a discrepancy between the public health perspective of walking as a near-perfect and low carbon form of exercise, and its neglect as a travel mode in transport planning and funding,” said Audrey.

How could walking contribute to more sustainable cities?

“Transport accounts for about a quarter of global CO2 emissions and motorised road vehicles account for almost three-quarters of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions,” said Audrey.

In this respect, it makes sense that net-zero strategies heavily focus on rethinking how cities are built and planned.

Some research even suggests that walkability is the basis of a ‘sustainable city’, often affected by the built environment and variables such as class, race and socioeconomic status.

Audrey continues: “A ‘walkable’ neighbourhood requires most facilities to be within a 10-20 minute walk from people’s homes, and with easy access to reliable public transport for longer journeys.

“Social interaction is encouraged between neighbours, with benefits in physical and mental health.”

This way of urban planning not only represents benefits in terms of environmental policies but also impacts people’s health.

The life of pedestrians in Bristol and what the BWA proposes

The Bristol Transport Strategy recognises walking as a distinct mode of transport, in contrast to other strategies. As Audrey mentioned: “[Other policies] which use terms such as ‘active travel’, sustainable transport’ or ‘cycling and walking’ do not identify specific measures and funding for walking.”

However, it’s unclear how this has been affecting and guiding the policy to ensure due maintenance of pavements and the protection of pedestrians.

In 2015, Bristol City Council committed to ending deaths and life-changing injuries on the roads, but many argue it is still unsafe to be a pedestrian in the city.

BWA published 50 ways to better walking in 2021, intending to add more detail as to the actions needed.

This included “identifying and enhancing walking routes; adopting design standards that are inclusive; developing walkable communities; connecting walking to public transport; counting, monitoring and sharing information about walking; reducing obstructions to walking and implementing enforcement measures”.

Audrey says: “Although there is still a lot of work to be done, we can see that progress is being made.

“But many in parts of the city, the movements of motor vehicles are given priority over those who are on foot or using mobility aids. Pedestrians are often forced to share footways with faster moving vehicles, including bicycles and e-scooters, which can be difficult for disabled people.”

As neglected paths feature on the news and pedestrian deaths are too regular an occurrence, Bristol Walking Alliance will keep on working towards making Bristol a walkable city a reality.

This piece of independent journalism is supported by NatWest and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership

Main photo: Bristol Walk Fest

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