Living Streets welcomes targets for walking in Otago report
Press Release from Living Streets Aotearoa
Living Streets Aotearoa strongly supports Otago University’s “Turning the Tide from Cars to Active Transport” report, launched today, especially the targets to double the number of trips walked and improve access to public transport.
“Walking is under threat in New Zealand,” says Celia Wade-Brown, Living Streets National Secretary and one of the report’s authors. “This important report shows walking to work, to school and to the shops is endangered. Too much traffic, urban sprawl, long waits at the lights and dangerous speeds all discourage walking”
Ms Wade-Brown adds “People need to feel safe to be willing to walk and to let their children walk to school or play. Walking is often under-funded, ignored and not measured, yet it’s the lifeblood of retail and it’s the best medicine. Humans need to walk! Changing transport investment criteria and requiring local government to set targets for active transport will make a real difference.”
Living Streets Aotearoa is actively working to share projects and programmes to increase walkable access to public transport and children’s ability to safely walk to school and play at the second NZ Walking Summitin Auckland on 20 – 21 June.
Living Streets has also led a coalition of eleven organisations Footpaths for Feet to keep footpaths clear of a range of parked or moving vehicles.
