Crossing in the Rain © Patrick Lin/AFP
Walking is accessible to all social groups, ages, religions and cultures and has the least environmental impact of all forms of travel. Creating an attractive and safe pedestrian environment is a critical part of developing more liveable communities. This is especially important across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where studies show walking to be the major mode of transport among the poorest city residents. However, many cities lack walking routes that link daily destinations. Pedestrians are often pushed aside by efforts to ease congestion and they remain vulnerable to injury if hit by a vehicle. To address such issues, improvements to pedestrian facilities must be emphasised and given greater importance in urban planning and traffic strategies.
Read more in the gTKP Urban Mobility Topic Information Sheet on Pedestrians and Walking.