Walk This Way: Pedestrianism

Spring Issue: August 2008

Nobody would object to towns and cities being made more pleasant to walk in. Having safe footpaths and crossings, pedestrian refuges on busy arterial streets, and slow zones on quiet suburban streets would be welcomed. So, too, would sufficient night lighting and weather shelters.

But, in recent years, local and central Governments have gone further to encourage walking and use public transport. Modelled on European cities, 'smart growth' translates to increased numbers of people living on top of each other, ideally with boutique retail on ground level, offices on the next level up, and apartments above. And, at street level, wider pavements are designed to encourage social interaction.

The theory of urban planners is that if places are more pedestrian-friendly, people will walk more and drive less, reducing emissions and energy costs. Inner Wellington, for example, mixes retail, offices and apartments and the 2006 census showed walking accounted for 11% of commuting trips there, compared to 5% in Auckland and 6% in Christchurch. Christchurch residents cycle more than in other cities, presumably because it's flatter; in compact, hilly Wellington and Dunedin, more people walk; and in sprawling Auckland people don't do much of either. Altogether, though, no more than an eighth of New Zealanders walk or cycle to work.

The Ministry of Transport and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency have made 'active modes' a key part of their long-term urban planning strategies.

The new transport strategy includes a goal that, by 2040, 30% of all trips in New Zealand will be carried out on foot or by cycling. Is this realistic? The Ministry of Transport's travel survey estimates New Zealanders currently spend 191 million hours a year walking - but 857 million hours driving and 337 million as passengers in cars. When this is examined by age, teenagers do the lion's share (18%) of all this walking, with working-age adults spending no more than 8% of their travel time on their feet.

A few things put people off walking: the time people can spare to reach a particular destination; the discomfort of bad weather; the reliability of back-up transport if time or strength runs out; health and fitness; the problems of moving small children; the need to carry loads; the fear of crime.

Once people start walking, many find it surprising how far they can go in a reasonable time. For the average adult an urban tramp of five kilometres in an hour burns the energy equivalent of an eighth of your daily food energy intake. This radius covers most of Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch's suburbs; Auckland City out to Pt Chevalier, Mt Roskill or Remuera; Birkenhead to Takapuna; and most of the suburbs around Manukau City. Of course, fat loss depends on the pace you walk, the slope of the route, your weight (plus any load) and whether you eat chocolate as a reward afterwards.

Celia Wade-Brown is a Greens' Wellington councillor and a strong advocate of walking. She stresses it's not about extreme positions. "What I advocate is not walking every day, every trip," she says. "Cars and walking co-exist because every car trip starts and ends with a walk. There are times and places for both modes. It's about providing more choices and making walking safer and easier."

There are cultural and economic issues around inner city 'smart growth'. Unlike other nationalities, New Zealanders rely on home ownership as a form of saving and apartments are a riskier investment. Also, New Zealanders have a culture of raising children in suburbs with gardens, rather than in apartments with parks. Inner city Wellington is well provided with parks, but has only 1,100 inhabitants aged under 10 - out of a total of 33,000 - in its inner suburbs.

And, with two high-profile murders of pedestrians this year, there is growing community anxiety that our streets, especially after dark, aren't safe. Celia Wade-Brown's response is that deserting the streets is a sure way to make them unsafe - and that the more people on the street, the safer walking becomes.

She advocates walking groups.

Ultimately, it comes down to choice. Wade-Brown's goal is to see "more people choosing to walk more often". Unfortunately, the 'active mode' target in the transport strategy is not about choice but forcing local government, at risk of losing transport funding, to demonstrate how it is getting people away from reliance on cars.

Walking is part of our fundamental freedom of movement, it's natural and it's good for us too. On the other hand, the car is a core tool of modern life which few people would be without, and one which allows us to enjoy the benefits of living in New Zealand with its many outdoor opportunities.
The two modes complement one another and it's a matter of everyone finding a balance that suits them.

Story by Peter King