Walking is the most widely used mode of personal transport, but has not yet become a normal component of transport planning. Pedestrians are more frequently viewed as a safety issue, or as a key factor in retail shopping location or major public building design. Transport data on walking has been brought together and analysed in terms of age, sex and household car ownership level. The importance of road-related and off-road walking activities are discussed, and the role of walking in shopping activities is used as an illustration of the shortfalls in the systematic treatment of pedestrian activity. Pedestrian travel speeds and route choice criteria are examined, and the special features of walking and shopping trips are discussed. Australian and overseas data are used to illustrate the materials available to treat pedestrian movements as a normal mode of transport. (A)
Abstract