Queensland Walking Strategy

[ozbob]

Queensland Walking Strategy

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Pedestrians-and-walking/Queensland-walking-strategy

Have your say

The first phase of community and stakeholder engagement for the Queensland Walking Strategy is now open, and we want to hear from you!

When we talk about walking, we also include jogging, running, and moving with the aid of a mobility device (such as a wheelchair or a walking frame) – meaning we want to understand the whole picture.

Share a walking story or photos of your favourite walking spots on our Queensland Walking Strategy Ideas Wall using #wewalkqld.
You can also complete our online survey or provide a written submission to further inform the strategy.

Keep up to date by registering here.

Why are we preparing a Walking Strategy?

Walking is fun, relaxing, active, inexpensive, environmentally friendly and social, as well as being good for local communities and businesses.

Research tells us that 1 in 5 Queensland adults already walk for recreation1 and the Queensland Government wants to see more people walking, more often.

Every Queenslander should have the opportunity to walk or to use walking facilities so they can experience the many benefits it offers, such as health benefits from increased physical activity.

Walking is also one of the best transport options for short trips. Whether you are walking to school, the local shops or public transport, choosing to walk is good for you and good for your community.

The Queensland Government is investing $2.5 million over the next 3 years to deliver a range of initiatives and actions identified as part of the Queensland Walking Strategy to improve the environment we walk in and the facilities we walk on.

[verbatim9]

Filled it out. Very comprehensive survey. I mentioned better connections by PT to Nature reserves and parks. e.g. Mount Glorious, Mount Tambourine, Mt Cootha, Springbrook, Malaney, Montville  etc...  Daylight Saving would also be advantageous for better security in the evening due to natural light and lower UV from 6am-9am 5pm-8pm.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/QORFau/status/1069420531164856320

[verbatim9]

^^I still reckon Daylight Saving would help over summer. It makes people rise closer to dawn hence cooler walking to work. It also would be light until 1945 with Daylight Saving. People then can enjoy the milder temperatures while it's still light from 1800. There is usually a breeze at that time which makes it quite pleasant to walk.

Some people are advocating for a permanent 30min offset all year. That may help? But a full hour with Daylight Saving from Oct to April is better.

I do agree with a the other improvements for walking in and around the CBD and Inner suburbs as suggested in the article.

[timh]

People then can enjoy the milder temperatures while it's still light from 1800. There is usually a breeze at that time which makes it quite pleasant to walk.

That's the thing about Daylight Savings I could personally never get on board with: it's entire purpose is about getting more sunlight. The sooner that flaming ball of pain goes away the better! Why would I want more of it? 

[verbatim9]

People then can enjoy the milder temperatures while it's still light from 1800. There is usually a breeze at that time which makes it quite pleasant to walk.

That's the thing about Daylight Savings I could personally never get on board with: it's entire purpose is about getting more sunlight. The sooner that flaming ball of pain goes away the better! Why would I want more of it? 

Many people won't go out for walks presently after 1830, due to lack of light adding to security concerns especially for females. As per the article too hot at certain times of the day, hence Daylight Saving would alleviate that. There is not more sun as a result from Daylight Saving. In the mornings it would be closer to dawn sun lower or just breaking. The available morning light is shifted from 0430-0530 to 1830-1930.

[timh]

People then can enjoy the milder temperatures while it's still light from 1800. There is usually a breeze at that time which makes it quite pleasant to walk.

That's the thing about Daylight Savings I could personally never get on board with: it's entire purpose is about getting more sunlight. The sooner that flaming ball of pain goes away the better! Why would I want more of it? 

Many people won't go out for walks presently after 1830, due to lack of light adding to security concerns especially for females. As per the article too hot at certain times of the day, hence Daylight Saving would alleviate that. There is not more sun as a result from Daylight Saving. In the mornings it would be closer to dawn sun lower or just breaking. The available morning light is shifted from 0430-0530 to 1830-1930.

All good man, was a joke   

I understand there's plenty of reasons why Daylight saving is practical. My pasty white skin just doesn't like the sun! If there was a way to physically make the sun go away for longer I'd be on board 

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Too hot to handle: Sunshine State residents shun walking due to heat

One in three Queenslanders avoid walking because it is too hot.

More than 2600 Queenslanders shared their thoughts on stepping out, which will inform a 10-year Queensland Walking Strategy, to be released later this year.

As part of an extensive consultation process, a survey revealed the factors that stopped people from walking were that it was too hot (35 per cent), places they liked to go were too far away (26 per cent) and they did not have enough time (22 per cent).

To get them walking more often, people wanted more connected paths, more shade, smooth and even surfaced paths and greater separation from traffic.

It echoes comments from outgoing South Bank Corporation chair Catherin Ball who last year said the walking experience in Brisbane was ugly, hot and left pedestrians exposed to traffic.

Almost one-third of the respondents said they would walk more if there were more seats along paths to take a rest, while one in four said they wanted more lighting and wider paths.

More than 80 per cent of people said they were motivated to walk for physical health reasons, while half said they enjoyed walking and found it relaxing, and because it was good for their mental health.

Almost half of the respondents were fans of active travel, saying they walked to get somewhere, such as work, school, shops or public transport.

Some Brisbane residents wanted to ban cars from more streets in the CBD, while several people called for more pedestrian bridges to be built, including from Toowong to West End, Kangaroo Point to Alice Street in the CBD and from New Farm.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said encouraging more people to walk was one of the simplest ways to keep people healthy.

"Governments have a role to play by providing facilities for people of all ages and abilities when they plan public spaces," he said.

"When we talk about walking, we mean jogging, running, and moving with the aid of a mobility device, such as a wheelchair or a walking frame."

Mr Bailey said the state government worked with councils to reduce speed limits and encourage pedestrian-friendly environments.

Feedback from pedestrians in Brisbane:

"Pedestrian green man signals to stay green as long as possible in Brisbane CBD. Roma Street and Turbot is the worst, especially the pedestrian crossing on the north-west side near court buildings."

"For exercise and to the shops: pedestrian and bike bridge from Toowong to West End."


"Build the missing pedestrian bridge that was promised by BCC from Kangaroo Point to Alice Street, City."

"More overhead coverage along inner-city walking routes to provide some level of protection from rain in and around the CBD."

"Pedestrian bridges – particularly at the bottom of New Farm and/or other suburbs on the inner outskirts of Brisbane. If there was a pedestrian bridge I could walk to work (two kilometres) but because there is not, I have to take my car up and around the city and it's an 8-kilometre drive."

"Reducing traffic in the Brisbane CBD – more carless streets!"

"Better shade along the Riverwalk."

"Consider changing some streets in the CBD to one-way only and using the spare road capacity for pedestrians/cyclists."

"Water bubblers needed along walking routes."

"Slower car speeds in the CBD, or roads changed to pedestrian malls like Albert Street, and others."

A Queensland Walking Summit will be held at the Queensland University of Technology on March 14, with about 100 representatives from walking, bike riding, health accessibility, academic and education organisations due to attend.

[ozbob]

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Walking plan aims to make great strides for Queenslanders' health

Supporting Queenslanders to walk more often is at the heart of the state's first ever Walking Strategy.

Embedding 'walkability' in planning, creating more pedestrian friendly precincts and promoting walking tourism are some of the actions outlined in the Palaszczuk Government's 10-year plan.

Launching the strategy today ahead of Walk at Work Week, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said $2.5 million would be invested in walking initiatives across the state over the next three years to support the plan.

"Making walking an easy and obvious choice for people means healthier people," Mr Bailey said.

"When we talk about walking, we include jogging, running and moving with the help of a mobility device, such as a wheelchair, mobility cane or a walking frame.

"The Queensland Walking Strategy was developed using feedback we directly received from Queenslanders and recognises the critical role walking plays in keeping us all healthy."

Mr Bailey said governments at all levels could support people to walk more often by ensuring walking was more prominently considered in planning and public design, including more shade and better connected pathways.

"It's recommended adults do at least 2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, each week," Mr Bailey said.

"Research shows Queenslanders are walking more on average each week than they were 10 years ago, but factors that discourage people to walk include the distances to destinations, lack of shade and shelter, and lack of suitable paths.

"It's factors like these that mean in almost 40% of the journeys taken in south east Queensland under one kilometre, people are still choosing to drive.

"This strategy is about putting a number of small steps together so that we can make swapping the car for the footpath a natural choice for people."

Mr Bailey said the 10-year strategy was supported by an action plan with 44 initiatives.

"Some of the actions include exploring ways to reduce pedestrian wait times at crossings and implementing lower speed limits in at least 20 locations over two years in areas with high numbers of walkers and bike riders," Mr Bailey said.

"We've introduced low speed areas in the Cairns CBD and at Coolum along David Low Way in the past 12 months, so we're monitoring those spaces to see if they encourage more walking, bike riding.

"We're also piloting initiatives to improve access for people with mobility impairments through a mapping program, where sensors are fitted to participants' wheelchairs and fed into an online map.

"People with accessibility requirements will then be able to map out their journeys with confidence knowing they can get to where they need to go without obstructions or missing links on their journeys."

Heart Foundation Queensland CEO Stephen Vines welcomed the plan to get Queenslanders moving more.

"Regular walking is one of the best choices to reduce your risk of heart disease, so we want to see Queenslanders leaving the car at home more often and walking to work, school or the local shops," Mr Vines said.

"The Queensland Walking Strategy will give people more opportunity to make a healthy choice in how they get from A to B and help them take steps towards a more active lifestyle."

Queensland Walks President Anna Campbell congratulated the Palaszczuk Government for its commitment to releasing Queensland's first Walking Strategy.

"A Queensland Walking Strategy will support and encourage improved walking infrastructure allowing more Queenslanders to walk, more often," MS Campbell said.

"By prioritising people and their need to walk we will see local economies reinvigorated, healthier Queenslanders, improved safety and increased regional development through walking tourism and improved transport connections."

Mr Bailey said the action plan would be monitored and updated every two years to ensure the strategy's vision and objectives were being met.

Consultation was conducted in early 2019 with stakeholders, experts and organisations from across the state to hear first-hand what Queenslanders felt needed to be done to better promote walking.

Consultation included surveys, written submissions, an interactive ideas wall and workshops culminating in the Queensland Walking Summit, a flagship community event in March.

For more information, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au/walking

ENDS

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland now has a 'walking strategy' to get people out of cars

The state government will spend $2.5 million over the next three years in an effort to get Queenslanders walking.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey made the announcement on Sunday as part of the release of the state's first ever "walking strategy".

The strategy maps out 10 years' worth of measures to encourage more people to walk more often, kickstarted by a short-term two-year "action plan" to get the ball rolling.

"There's a whole lot of actions there over the next two years that we'll work our way through," Mr Bailey said.

"That includes improving planning frameworks, improving the design that we have when we build our roadways and footpaths (and) making urban spaces more inviting.

"The level of exercise for kids a generation ago is more than double what it is now, so we've got to find safe and positive ways to promote exercise for people of all ages."

The Walking in Queensland released on Sunday showed two-in-five people were using their cars for journeys of less than one kilometre.

What would encourage Queenslanders to walk more?

24% Smooth and even-surfaced paths
13% More shade along routes
19% More seating and places to stop for rest
11% Greater separation from traffic
15% More connected paths

Anna Campbell from advocacy group Queensland Walks said that figure suggested there was more going on than just people not being bothered to walk to the shops.

"That concept of not walking somewhere a kilometre away, we need to look at localised suburbs and figure out what's gone wrong, why people are getting into their car and not walking," Ms Campbell said.

"This Queensland walking strategy has identified some of the needs, and we will work together with the Queensland government to look at some of those details.

Heart Foundation Queensland CEO Stephen Vines also welcomed the government's announcement, saying regular walking was one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve overall health.

"Some 40 per cent of Queensland adults are not active enough for good health, nearly 60 per cent of Queensland children are not active enough," Mr Vines said.

"So we need to create environments to support people and encourage more people to walk more often."

The two-year action plan contains 44 measures including implementing lower speed limits in at least 20 locations over two years in areas with high numbers of walkers and bike riders.

The state government is monitoring speed limit reductions in the Cairns CBD and on the Sunshine Coast along David Low Way at Coolum in the past 12 months.

That follows Brisbane City Council reducing the speed limit on a number of CBD streets from 60km/h to 40km/h for pedestrian safety.

The definition of "walking" for the purposes of the report also includes people who use a mobility device, such as a wheelchair, mobility cane or a walking frame.

The action plan outlines a mapping program for people with mobility issues, where sensors are fitted to participants' wheelchairs and fed into an online map.

Eventually the map is intended to give up-to-date information for people to plan their journeys without obstructions or missing links

The government will monitor the action plan and update it every two years during the 10-year strategy period.
10% More walking trails in natural areas near home

[Stillwater]

More than $2.5m is required to make a difference and get Queenslanders walking. In my own community, a survey showed that biggest impediments to getting more people walking were (1) lack of connectivity in the local path network and (2) lack of shade trees that would make walking pleasant.

Also, remember this is a state government plan, when the bulk of the responsibility for walking paths rests with local government.  The strategy lacks an initiative to get local government paying more attention to walking and allocating more money to the necessary infrastructure.

[aldonius]

More than that - our suburban built environment is utterly car dependent. If the State government actually cared about sustainable development going forwards they'd reshape urban growth policy towards serious intensification.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Walking could be key to getting Queenslanders moving and reducing traffic woes

With good weather nearly all year round, why do Queenslanders shun walking? A new plan hopes to get people walking not only for health reasons but to aid their daily commute.

Key points

Queensland's first walking strategy will focus on ways to get people moving during their day

Community and personal benefits include health, reduced traffic congestion, and regional development

Infrastructure improvements including ramps, shade and signage are part of the plan

Queensland's first walking strategy was launched earlier this week with an aim to get people out walking as part of their commute, weekend activities, and to also make it easier for people to be mobile.

Research undertaken for the new strategy found that 40 per cent of adults and 59 per cent of all Queenslanders were not getting enough physical activity.

Queensland Walks Incorporated president Anna Campbell said the plan would not only help the health sector, but transport and infrastructure worries.

"We want to build walking habits for life and that includes getting kids walking, families walking, and getting people walking," she told ABC Radio Brisbane.

"There is not enough of us walking, so we need it for many reasons and to get our towns more walk-able.

"For health reasons, if we walk more we're healthier and it's also good for physical, social, and mental health."

Commuting by foot
The study found, on average, for every $1 invested in walking innovations, it returned almost $14 in benefits for traffic congestion, health, and the environment.

"Walking can help invigorate the local economies, which will help many places around the state especially regional areas," Ms Campbell said.

"Regional development will also benefit through walking tourism and improved transport connections and integration."

The study, along with programs such as 10,000 Steps, will encourage office workers to include walking in their commute by:

using public transport and getting off a few stops before their station or work place
leaving the car at home and commuting by foot, if living closer to work
looking at ways to get additional steps in during the day by planning walking meetings instead of sitting

Infrastructure and mobility for everyone
Ms Campbell added that mobility for people in wheelchairs, motorised scooters and pram users would also be a focus.

"Improving infrastructure like footpaths and ramps will also help increase people's ability to get around and supports the needs of everyone," she said.

Ms Campbell said encouraging people to walk could, in turn, help traffic congestion as more people integrated walking into their daily commute.

"Another element is shade and crime prevention to increase safety and that can be through environment design.

"Lighting is very important for people to feel safe, along with signage; this will ensure it is easier for people to get to where they need to."

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the strategy would be updated every two years to ensure the strategy was working in areas across Queensland.

"Almost 40 per cent of journeys taken in south-east Queensland are under 1 kilometre and people still choose to drive," Mr Bailey said.

"Some of the actions include lowering speed limits in at least 20 locations over two years in walking and bike-riding high-use areas."

ABC Radio Brisbane will broadcast live from various forms of transport this Wednesday as we take you on your commute and look for ways to make your journey easier.

[James]

Shade is important, but Brisbane's hot summer weather is absolutely not conducive to people walking more than 1km, especially when that involves hills.

I used to walk to school when I was in school age. It was not a long trip, only about 2km. While I would walk on sunny mornings, I would opt to be driven home in the afternoons because the temperature in summer around 3pm would easily be in the 30s and the walk home was up quite a steep hill.

At least in my case, it has nothing to do with the quality of the footpaths or adequate shade, it is because it's too hot & hilly. We should be working on all-inclusive local public transport strategies (especially around schools & shopping centres), rather than just asking everybody to walk. I might catch the bus 2km to my local shops to do some grocery shopping, but no way am I walking it!