The Ministry of Transport has put out a discussion document "Safer Journeys", asking for feedback on the priorities for improving safety on the roads. This is of paramount interest for walkers as we are the most vulnerable road users. More people would walk if they felt that our roads and the people who drive on them were safer. So have your say - you can read the document and make an on-line submission here, or put your comments on the blog for inclusion in the Living Streets submission.
Blog
26 Aug 2009
Congratulations to the Wellington City Council for turning a precarious Kelburn 'goat track' into a walkway to provide safe access for pedestrians between Norway and Plunket streets. Read more..
Tags: Walkability, Local government, Wellington
4 Aug 2009
The 10,000 Steps Northland win of a Golden Foot Award got a good story in the Northland Advocate
A Northland fitness programme not only stepped up to the mark, it set the pace at the inaugural national Golden Foot New Zealand National Walking Awards.
The 10,000 Steps Northland programme has won the Living Streets Aotearoa award for the country's best recreational walking programme.
Well done Sport Northland on some well deserved coverage!
21 Jul 2009
Give 200 pre-teens in London pedometers to count how many steps they walked - and guess what happens. As part of a study into obesity, 11- and 12-year-olds were required to clip a pedometer to their waists. Researchers were surprised by the activity levels recorded in some obese children. Further investigation revealed some had attached their pedometer to their family pets. Guess you have to credit their ingenuity. Full story on the BBC site.
21 Jul 2009
A school in New Plymouth has found a fun, positive way to make its Davies Lane entrance safer, and its students fitter.
Both the school and New Plymouth District Council are encouraging parents not to use Davies Lane for picking up and dropping off their children, but to instead walk them to school from home or from their cars parked elsewhere.
Tags: Health, Safety, Taranaki, New Plymouth
21 Jul 2009
Findings in the recently released report in to short trip active mode travel in Wellington shows that 79% of respondents in the greater Wellington region had made a short trip up to two kilometres in the 24 hours prior to interview, which is a decrease on the 89% recorded in the 2006 survey.
For more info click here.
Tags: Wellington region
21 Jul 2009
One in four blue collar workers are at high risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke or other cardiac problem in the next five years according to research carried out by workplace wellness provider, Vitality Works, a Scoop item reports.
The article goes on to note:
Tags: Health, Wellington
6 Apr 2009
The Quality of Life survey, made public today, asked residents in 12 cities to rank their lives in areas including health, crime and safety, and public transport. Wellington came out on top, with just under 95 per cent of Wellingtonians ranking theirs as either extremely good or good, making Wellington the No 1 city. The survey reports Wellingtonians believe it is generally a safe place to live. The city topped the list for people feeling safe after nightfall while in their homes, visiting the city centre, and walking in their neighbourhood.
29 Mar 2009
It is not quite clear who has written the blog post featured here on the property information site Zoodle but it provides a good summary of the issues related to walkability and the U.S. service that provides WalkScores
6 Feb 2009
Well it has been a long time coming but the LTNZ have finally published their guide to planning and designing spaces for pedestrians. In their words:
- This guide sets out ways to improve New Zealand’s walking environment. It outlines a process for deciding on the type of provision that should be made for pedestrians and provides design advice and standards.
In our view ....... [more to be added]
13 Dec 2008
Rodney Tolley, director of Walk21, a UK-based organisation that promotes walking, has been in Blenheim as a guest of the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board's Nutrition and Physical Activity programme to assess whether Marlborough could improve its walkways for pedestrians.
According to the Marlborough Express, Mr Tolley's analysis was that if you create a place where people want to walk and Blenheim will benefit economically.
Dr Tolley started his day with a walk around central Blenheim observing how
Tags: Local government, Nelson
9 Dec 2008
The Avondale Community Board has approved the 1.3km route along Great North Rd, the Central Leader (Dec 5th) has reported. The project will mix cyclists and pedestrians on the narrow footpaths near Blockhouse Bay Rd.
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9 Dec 2008
Good to see the initiative by the Tasman District Council in which they promote a Walk of the Month with a link to the archive of previous walks. Seems like a nice approach to getting people exploring parts of their locality they may not already know.
Tags: Local government, Nelson
7 Dec 2008
Be The Change have a "Bike or Walk" pledge.
Start walking or biking for short distances, with time you might get fitter.
Every kilometer saved on petrol counts!
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5 Dec 2008
Wellington City Council has adopted three new policies aimed at improving conditions for walkers and cyclists across the city. The Walking, Cycling and Track Recreation Activities policies were approved last week.
Tags: Local government, Wellington
5 Dec 2008
Toi Te Ora – Public Health, an arm of the Bay of Plenty DHB, is launching an Active Transport campaign to encourage people to incorporate exercise on their way to work.
People are encouraged to sign up to receive eight weekly emails with motivational advice and practical support to help them get started with biking or walking to work. The email series, which starts in January, includes solutions for people who live far away, have low fitness levels or are complete beginners.
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27 Nov 2008
Good news for walkers and cyclists in Blenheim according to the Marlborough Express
Cyclists could soon be wheeling themselves along the first part of a planned bike path between Blenheim and Spring Creek after the Marlborough District Council signed off funding for the work.Bike Walk Marlborough and Marlborough Roads have been working together towards the establishment of a sealed 4.5km path for cyclistsand walkers between Blenheim and Spring Creek as part of the council's walking and cycling strategy. T
Tags: Local government
12 Nov 2008
A recent Nelson Mail has an opinion piece by Councillor Mike Cotton. While acknowledging the need to encourage bus usage, cycling and walking, he goes on to expound why the Regional Land Transport Strategy neneds to be reviewed.
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11 Nov 2008
The Hutt News reports on the upcoming hearings that the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) is preparing to hold on its Regional Cycling Plan.
It goes on to comment that
The hearings will be held .....
It goes on to comment that
Last month Cr Bruce succeeded in getting GWRC's Transport and Access committee to adopt an amendment to the Ngauranga to Airport Plan and Regional Walking Plan, supporting the concept of the harbour path. But the motion gives support for the concept only, without effect. Wellington City Council has already said it supports the idea.
The hearings will be held .....
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23 Oct 2008
In October 2008, California's Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law SB375, to limit the state’s CO2 emissions by curbing suburban sprawl and increasing transit-based development through various incentives. In this article, Charles Lockwood explains how it works.
If a community plans walkable, mixed-use, transit-oriented growth that reduces automobile use and greenhouse gas emissions, for example, it gets moved to the front of the line for state and federal transportation funds. If a proposed building is loc
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