Walking in Britain is an important but currently declining mode of transport. In the winter of 2000-01 the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee of the House of Commons carried out an inquiry into the expenditure, administration and policy of Government towards walking in towns and cities. The resultant Select Committee Report is uncompromisingly critical of the Government, arguing that the attention, action and priority accorded to walking failed to match its importance and were inadequate to reverse the longstanding trend of decline. Amongst many recommendations is a call for a National Walking Strategy. The paper reviews the process of the inquiry and discusses the relevance of the outcomes to the contemporary walking environment in Britain. (A)
Abstract