In the development of the recently published strategic plan (Perth Walking: The Metropolitan Region Pedestrian Strategy), Transport WA commissioned research to look into the walking practices of people resident in localities throughout metropolitan Perth. Not least amongst the reasons for conducting the survey was the recognition of the inadequacy of current survey methodologies that fail to collect in-depth data relating to the walking components of multi-modal journeys. To obtain a thorough understanding of walking behaviour, questions were asked that separated information relating to walking undertaken for recreation from walking undertaken for transport. Additional questions sought information identifying the key barriers, enablers and motivators to walking. To ensure adequacy of sample composition throughout all Perth metropolitan local government areas, the region was divided into twenty-two groups of adjacent suburbs. The sample frame comprised 1510 residents aged 16 and over. The survey was conducted during September 1999, at a time of mild spring weather, the questions covering the seven-day period prior to the survey. It is considered that the survey findings and the conclusions to be drawn from them are significant in both providing for and encouraging increased walking-trip activity in keeping with local, national and international policies and protocols. They should be of particular interest to all decision-makers and adopted for inclusion in all walking-related decision-making processes. (Author/publisher)
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