Measuring Walking:
How to measure walking time and time spent
sojourning?
In our
workshops in Rotterdam
2019 and in Dublin 2022 we focused on indicators on a global level. In Lisbon
we want to discuss how best to measure the first of the main indicators that we
agreed upon.
Indicators
are normally embedded in a policy framework with goals, objectives and actions.
The indicators then measure the achievement of these objectives and actions. In
the last three years a couple policy frameworks have been developed on a global
and regional level. For example, in the Partnership for Active Travel and Health
(PATH) and
in the Partnership on Active Mobility within THE PEP – the Transport, Health and
Environment Pan-European Programme.
They
both include more or less the same five main indicators which are at least partially building on our workshop results. They are:
Activity: average
minutes walked per day per person;
Safety+Security: number of pedestrians killed or injured in traffic per million
inhabitants;
Accessibility: share
of the population within 500m of public transport;
Comfort: %
of urban roads that are classified by iRAP as 3* or better for pedestrians (see:
https://irap.org/);
Satisfaction: share
of the population that perceive walking as safe, easy and enjoyable.
In Lisbon
we want to start a deeper methodological discussion on how to measure time walked and time spent sojourning building on existing tools and methods. Time is highly relevant for health
outcomes, risk assessments, and the perception of spatial qualities.
The
Measuring Walking Team has prepared a background paper to make the workshop
discussions as focussed and efficient as possible. A first draft can be
downloaded besides.
We
look forward to your insights and input in this workshop and to seeing you in
Lisbon!
