Developing a Walking Strategy: A Guide for Councils

A walkable environment is safe, interesting and easy to walk around. It incorporates travel routes and destinations that are lively and attractive. From footpaths to parks and other public spaces, it invites a culture of walking, to shops or services, for recreation, to catch the bus or to get to school or work. A good walking strategy will help create an environment where all types of walking are supported, allowing council to meet transport, health and planning objectives. It will coordinate your council’s work to support walking, ensuring it is prioritised in transport and strategic planning, increasing its integration with other modes of transport, improving the safety of walking and raising its profile within your municipality. This guide overviews the issues and approaches you need to consider to promote walking in the community. It has been developed in response to a need identified in discussions with councils and the Victorian Pedestrian Advisory Council.