WALKING A TO Z
Our Vice President and Transport Planner at Arup, Susan Claris, has brought together an A-Z of small-scale improvements that can be made by local authorities and others to create a walking world for everyone.
![A - Audit of Streets](/media/t0ycmixw/aa-audit-of-streets.png)
We work with local people to carry out Community Street Audits and School Route Audits to identify improvements to make local streets more walkable.
![B - Bollards and modal filters](/media/0p4bwkwo/bb-bollards-and-modal-filters.png)
Modal filters offer the opportunity to significantly enhance the quality of the walking and cycling environment on both the street that is being filtered and adjacent roads.
![C - Cut the clutter](/media/aidbubh0/cc-cut-the-clutter.png)
Street clutter clogs up our pavements and makes it hazardous for people to get around. We need to cut the clutter.
![D - dropped kerbs](/media/exldsoki/dd-dropped-kerbs.png)
We need dropped kerbs on both sides of the streets to allow people with wheelchairs, buggies etc to use our streets easily and safely.
![E - Enforcement](/media/rypdfcto/ee-enforcement.png)
We need better enforcement of laws around illegal parking, speeding, obstructions and pavement cycling - more needs to happen so cyclists feel safer on the road.
![F - Flowers, trees and greenery](/media/dkthbtfq/ff-flowers-trees-greenery.png)
They make our streets more pleasant places to be. They can help mitigate climate change, provide habitats to improve urban biodiversity and provide shelter.
![G - Guard rails - get rid of them](/media/wy0a5sjw/gg-guard-rails-get-rid-of-them.png)
Guard rails create segregation not protection. They clutter and frustrate pedestrians. Slower speeds and better infrastructure are proper solutions.
![H - Healthy and safe routes to school](/media/yxvkkmon/hh-healthy-streets-and-safe-routes-to-school.png)
Setting up a School Street is relatively simple and can make a huge difference to encouraging families to walk to school while improving the air quality in the area.
![I - Islands and refuges](/media/ad0l4ddy/ii-islands-and-refuges.png)
A well-designed pedestrian safety island reduces the exposure time experienced by a pedestrian in a junction considerably.
![J - Junction improvements](/media/hyvpcvrm/jj-junction-improvements.png)
Nearly a quarter of pedestrian deaths occur at - or within 50m of - a crossing. The #HighwayCode has been updated to give people walking priority at junctions.
![K - Keep speeds low](/media/rvlhguc1/kk-keep-speeds-low.png)
We want 20mph limits on streets where people live, work and play. Wales led the way by introducing a 20mph limit. We need other nations to follow in their footsteps.
![L - Less time to wait](/media/uebbvgit/ll-less-time-to-wait.png)
We need less time to wait at signalised crossings and longer pedestrian crossing times. Find out about our latest campaign calling for better crossings, via the link below.
![M - Maintenance](/media/nryjcwse/mm-maintenance.png)
Nearly one in three (31%) over 65s are prevented from walking on their local streets because of cracked pavements. We need well-maintained footways.
![N - No pavement parking](/media/4r4jk1ue/nn-no-pavement-parking.png)
Cars parked on the pavement are an inconvenience at best. At worst, they force people into the roads and into danger. We need to ban pavement parking.
![O - Open consultation](/media/p33lnkyi/oo-open-consultation.png)
We need dialogue with all people. We work with communities to better understand the needs of local streets users.
![P - parklets](/media/qiyd5amt/pp-parklets.png)
Parklets are popping up everywhere, creating resting places and play areas where there was previously an empty parking spot.
![Q - quiet streets](/media/uevhyme2/qq-quiet-streets.png)
...but not too quiet! Reducing traffic volumes and speeds, quieter vehicles and low noise road surfaces will all benefit health as well as improve the ambiance of streets.
![R - rat running - get rid of](/media/3nlkv1kt/rr-rat-running-get-rid-of.png)
Rat running through residential streets prevents communities from walking more and stops children playing out on their streets. We need more measures that put an end to it.
![S - Seating](/media/c0chwkbm/ss-seating.png)
Having places to stop and rest is important to help those who are less able to walk long distances. Check out our animation to see what we think makes a ‘Living Street’.
![T - toilets](/media/2wlhn3ub/tt-toilets.png)
Our Croydon Local Group asked teenage girls and non-binary young people what could improve their streets. Well-maintained public toilets made their Top 3.
![U - universal access](/media/ozmbnnyx/uu-universal-access.png)
An inclusive approach to street design breaks down the barriers that exclude people and gives everyone a voice in the planning process.
![V - Value for money](/media/yixdcj20/vv-value-for-money.png)
Our Pedestrian Pound research shows that shoppers on foot can spend up to 6 x more than those who arrive by car, & good walking environments boost sales by 30%.
![W - Wellbeing](/media/agjnjbpd/ww-wellbeing.png)
Many older people are physically inactive, feel socially isolated or are at risk of becoming so. Our Walking Connects project is helping to boost wellbeing through led walks.
![X - X crossings](/media/034m400k/xx-x-crossings.png)
X crossing are a type of traffic signal that temporarily stops all vehicular traffic, allowing pedestrians to cross in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time.
![Y - yellow lines](/media/m3tdf51r/y-yellow-lines.png)
Yellow lines to manage parking. Double yellow lines indicate a prohibition of waiting at any time even if there are no upright signs.
![z - zebra crossings](/media/5avaueod/zz-zebra-crossings.png)
We want more of them! Including, side road zebras (no zig-zags and beacons) and Pelican, Puffin and Toucan crossings.
About the author
Living Streets