Pedestrians spend more, new report reveals
A new report shows the correlation between walkable places and thriving businesses. Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, launches its updated Pedestrian Pound report today (14 November, 2024).
The report shows that pedestrians spend more money than people arriving by car, and pedestrianised town centres have higher sales.
With Christmas around the corner, local brick-and-mortar businesses are feeling the pinch. The pandemic and cost of living crisis have driven online sales and reduced the average number of shopping trips per person, from 181 in 2019 to 151 in 2022. British high streets also suffered a record number of retail failures in 2022, with a vacancy rate of nearly 1 in 7 by the end of 2023.
Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “We hear a lot about the death of the high street, as people choose to buy from the comfort of their own homes.
“This new report proves that making high streets and town centres more walkable increases time – and money – spent in those businesses. It’s slowly being recognised – the majority (95%) of London’s Business Improvement Districts identify a good walking environment as important to business performance.
“But high streets aren’t just shops – they provide services, entertainment, and a social hub for people of all walks of life. By making our town and city centres more accessible and attractive places to be, we can also help to bring communities together.”
Chris Boardman, National Active Travel Commissioner said: “Walkable high streets make for vibrant, happier and healthier communities, which is of course good for business. Making the centres of our towns, cities and villages easier and safer to get about on foot means people are more likely to spend more time there supporting local shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants.
“I’m pleased this research backs up what makes sense – that designing streets with people in mind makes better, more prosperous places for all. This is why we will continue to invest to provide more healthier and greener active travel options across the country.”
Originally published in 2013 and updated in 2018, this third edition broadens the evidence base for improved walking environments to include the benefits of happier and healthier people, stronger communities and a more resilient environment.
Dr Linda Yueh CBE, Fellow in Economics at the University of Oxford, said:
“As an economist and long-time charity volunteer, I am delighted to see this holistic approach to improving our high streets.
“One of the many fascinating facts in the report is that businesses based in the town centre earn 20% more profit when there’s a bank and post office on the high street. It’s clear that public realm improvements can provide multi-dimensional benefits.”
Kevin Lafferty, Chief Executive, Paths for All, said:
"As the Chief Executive of Scotland's national walking charity, I am delighted to see the powerful evidence presented in Living Streets' Pedestrian Pound report. These findings show that when we put people first and make walking and wheeling the easiest, most natural choices, we don't just get an economic boost - we build communities that are happier, healthier, and more sustainable for everyone.
Walking is one of the most affordable and accessible ways to help deliver a sustainable future, addressing some of society's biggest and most expensive challenges like public health and climate change."
About the author
Rowan Dent
PR and Media Coordinator, Living Streets / [email protected]