Walking

“London is a great city for walking. My vision is to make it one of the world’s most walking-friendly cities by 2015. Walking is an enjoyable, free and accessible activity and, for most people, a necessary part of their everyday journeys.”
Ken Livingstone, The Walking Plan for London, 2005

Almost seven million walking journeys on foot are made in London every day. Walking accounts for 80 percent of all trips under one mile. Walking is free, accessible, healthy and sociable. Walking is also an important means of getting to and from public transport services and is involved in most other journeys, such as catching a bus or train.

The Mayor's objectives

The Mayor is working with Transport for London (TfL) and the London boroughs to make London's streets more amenable and attractive for walking, with less pollution, congestion and crime.

In February 2008 the Mayor announced a new programme of investment in walking in London, with the aim that, by 2025, 22 percent of all trips in London will be made on foot. The two strands of the programme are:

Legible London, a comprehensive pedestrian way-finding system to help people navigate London. Following a trail in Bond Street, Legible London will be rolled out to key central London locations and the Olympics area by 2012, with major town centres covered by 2015
The Streets of Gold programme will combine improved infrastructure and design for pedestrians with regeneration measures to promote walking in small catchment areas in inner and outer London, linking key local destinations such as stations, schools and shops

More information about this programme is available in the Mayor’s press release, issued in February 2008.

What has been achieved to date?

TfL has an ongoing programme to improve pedestrian crossings across London
London's Six Strategic Walking Routes are being established by TfL working with the London boroughs. They comprise: the London Outer Orbital Path, the Capital Ring, the Thames Path National Trail, the Jubilee Walkway, the South-East Green Chain and the Lee Valley Walk
Walkfinder is a walking route information service provided by TfL
Improving Walkability (PDF), a best practice guidance document on improving pedestrian conditions, was published in September 2005 for use by local authorities
The Walking Plan for London was published in February 2004. It identifies the actions required to deliver improved walking conditions, and aims to increase walking by promoting it as a viable, alternative, healthy and environmentally friendly activity
London's first World Square, Trafalgar Square, was completed in June 2003 with a newly pedestrianised North Terrace. Design and consultation work is currently taking place for improvements to Parliament Square, which will create another world-class space for pedestrians