Making people walk more in small Norwegian cities

WALKMORE explores how small Norwegian cities (pop. 10-15.000) can make their inhabitants walk more for everyday travels through urban planning and development. The aim is to produce new knowledge related to i) planning processes and practices, ii) methods and tools to map and evaluate walking and walkability, iii) walking behaviours and people?s perception of urban built environments. Small Norwegian cities are typically characterized by short distances in and near the centre, ideal for walking, yet the private car dominates everyday travel. Urban planning and development is central to make walking more attractive as a modal choice. However, knowledge gaps regarding planning for walking, the influence of urban built environments on walking, and measures to promote it, is a barrier to achieve this and make people walk more. As part of the project we have examined what characteristics of walking strategies that affect whether they become good and effective tools in municipal planning. Recommendations for cities developing walking strategies can be summarized as: The walking strategy should have a long-term and holistic strategic part and a more short-term and concrete action plan that is revised frequently; The municipality should make the walking strategy itself; The walking strategy should be broadly anchored; Involve multiple municipal departments and other relevant actors in the preparation of the walking strategies; Participation from the population is important ? mapping of where children walk and mapping of data and planned interventions are tolls to engage; Campaigns that are conducted anyway should be included as part of the walking strategy. We have also observed important synergies that can arise between different activities and priorities the municipality is working on, as well as between different sectors, when walking is put on the agenda.

WALKMORE addresses a key aspect of developing efficient and sustainable transport systems for the future, and to reduce GHG-emissions and local pollution from transport: making people walk more. The project centres on small cities (10.-15.000 inhab.) who has a high walking potential, yet the private car generally dominates. The Norwegian National Walking Strategy (2012) points to urban planning and development as central to make people walk more. However, significant shortcomings remain in the scientific literature on how to plan and develop land use and transport systems in a way that stimulates and promotes walking. WALKMORE will therefore produce novel knowledge regarding i) how qualities and characteristics of the built environment affect walking behaviours, as well as its capacity to promote and stimulate to walking, ii) how to develop and implement effective and efficient walking strategies, measures and policies that leads to more walking, and iii) how current planning and decision-making processes must change to produce plans with higher goal achievement potential with respect to making people walk more. Moreover, novels methods and tools for mapping and evaluating walking and walkability, and innovative guidelines for local walking strategies in small cities. The project is a partnership between the cities of Steinkjer, Narvik, Kongsvinger, the counties of Innlandet, Nordland, and Trøndelag, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), the Institute of Transport Economics (TØI), and the National Public Roads Administration. The outcomes of WALKMORE will contribute to change and innovation towards a sustainable transport system in two stages. First, by enabling planners and decision-makers to develop land use and transport systems that leads to more walkable cities. Second, when inhabitants experience walking as more attractive, and thus walk more.