Interesting fact
Walking is beneficial in many ways — improved mental and physical health, lower costs than other modes of transport and environmentally friendly.
Why people walk
Although scientific evidence is scarce, there are indications that health is the single most important reason for travelers to use active modes, i.e. cycling or walking. Several popular step counter apps are now using health as an incentive to promote walking.
Where are walking incentives being implemented and for whom
In few cities, for example Odense, walking is explicitly promoted. Walking schemes are targeting the shortest trips such as trips to school by young children or as access and egress mode for public transport.
Incentives in relation to the infrastructure
Success of walking promotion programs depend on the quality of the walking infrastructure. Compared to cycling infrastructure, walking infrastructure is quite good in many European cities. However, as most of the infrastructure is car oriented, walking (and cycling) infrastructure is often put alongside car infrastructure. Pedestrians may however want to use very different routes (like short-cuts) and may use other geographical points to orientate themselves such as parks and other pedestrian friendly locations. The success of walking programs could be enhanced when pedestrians get information about good walking routes that form direct routes between origin and destinations and that include orientation point suited for pedestrians.
Type of incentive schemes to promote walking
Information campaigns are used to encourage walking within neighborhoods and among school children in particular, with the goal to improve health among children. Health improvement is also the main objective in apps that encouraging walking by counting steps and that provide feedback on personal targets based on number of steps and / or walking kilometers per day.
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Why people walk
Although scientific evidence is scarce, there are indications that health is the single most important reason for travelers to use active modes, i.e. cycling or walking. Several popular step counter apps are now using health as an incentive to promote walking.
Where are walking incentives being implemented and for whom
In few cities, for example Odense, walking is explicitly promoted. Walking schemes are targeting the shortest trips such as trips to school by young children or as access and egress mode for public transport.
Incentives in relation to the infrastructure
Success of walking promotion programs depend on the quality of the walking infrastructure. Compared to cycling infrastructure, walking infrastructure is quite good in many European cities. However, as most of the infrastructure is car oriented, walking (and cycling) infrastructure is often put alongside car infrastructure. Pedestrians may however want to use very different routes (like short-cuts) and may use other geographical points to orientate themselves such as parks and other pedestrian friendly locations. The success of walking programs could be enhanced when pedestrians get information about good walking routes that form direct routes between origin and destinations and that include orientation point suited for pedestrians.
Type of incentive schemes to promote walking
Information campaigns are used to encourage walking within neighborhoods and among school children in particular, with the goal to improve health among children. Health improvement is also the main objective in apps that encouraging walking by counting steps and that provide feedback on personal targets based on number of steps and / or walking kilometers per day.