Walking is an inherent characteristic of being human. It is such a ubiquitous activity that it is often not regarded as a transport mode at all. However, even in highly motorised societies, it is a crucial component of almost all trips and remains important as a mode in its own right. Creating good urban spaces requires the knowledge of the characteristics of walking and an understanding of the needs, abilities and wishes of pedestrians. Only if we build on these 'system properties' and develop a vision for our towns and cities on the basis of the untapped potentials of walking are we able to create a more sustainable future. The analysis of past developments and current trends show that in the future it is most important to prepare for a changing society, in view of an aging and diversifying population, to create inclusive public spaces and to anticipate the impact of increasing energy prices and climate change. Of particular importance are the sub- and peri-urban areas which will be the focal point of many of the problems but also of the potential of walking in growing cities. While the situation in city centres is slowly improving, the pedestrian issue remains largely neglected in conurbations. Based on the analysis of policies and case studies in different types of municipalities, solutions have been recognized by the project for overcoming current obstacles and supporting the actors on different institutional levels to improve the framework conditions and create awareness for walking and sojourning issues. In order to enhance the role of walking, more adequate data is needed. In the project steps have been initiated to establish international standards for the collection, analysis and dissemination of qualitative and quantitative techniques for measuring walking. The process of wide international consultation resulted, so far, in a comprehensive Assessment Model with a list of indicators and preliminary suggestions for suitable methods to be used (http://www.measuring-walking.org). The process has just begun and the world-wide interest affirms the need to continue this endeavour in the future. Perceptions of walking shape the decisions of politicians and professionals (planners, engineers); they affect the views of the media and influence how people use the streets. For many walking is still perceived as mode for short distances and the pedestrian as vulnerable road user. But walking is much more than that: it is an essential component of urban life and quality and serves as the glue of the transport system. Communication is, thus, an essential part of any measure to improve walking. It is not only the image of walking itself that influences city life and the interactions of people but also what the spaces 'communicate'. People believe in what they see and hear, just as much as what is fun and functional. Recognizing the importance of communication, the project put an emphasis on the dissemination of results. With the concluding colloquium 'Renouveau de la marche, en Suisse et en Europe' at EPFL a rich panorama of insights into the wide world of walking was given confirming Jan Gehl's famous sentence that walking is much more than just walking. The results of the project are available on
http://choros.epfl.ch (=>Recherche => Action COST 358) for national results and
http://www.walkeurope.org for the international outcome. Walking and sojourning are being taken more seriously today than they have been for decades. A lot remains to be done, however, to create healthy and sustainable communities where people choose to walk and enjoy welcoming public spaces. The COST Action 358 and the related Swiss research have hopefully made a contribution towards this goal.
