Set up

Define objectives

A walking strategy or action plan should have a clear purpose or objectives that can be achieved within a reasonable timescale and can be monitored. Objectives may already be identified for walking from higher level plans, for example a transport strategy or sustainable urban mobility plan. For example, there may be an objective to increase the share of active modes (including walking) to achieve carbon emissions reduction targets.

Objectives should always support the community’s needs but may also focus on particular pedestrian network characteristics, some suggestions are described in the following table.

Table: Example objectives for a walking action plan

PNG: Pedestrian network characteristics

It is helpful to include indicators to measure success of the objectives over time. Possible indicators are described here:

PNG: Indicators of success

Define area

A walking strategy or action plan should apply to an area that has common elements defined by factors such as:

• Geographic area
• Land use
• Administrative boundaries
• Planning designations
• Walkable catchment of a neighbourhood or other destination.

Once defined, background information should be gathered to confirm that the proposed area is appropriate, and in particular that there are no adjacent areas that should be included. Where necessary, the original area may need adjusting.

It can also be helpful to identify key walking routes and secondary routes within the study area as this can assist with focussing or prioritising actions. These can be identified through the desktop assessment and stakeholder engagement tasks.

Identify and secure support of stakeholders

Engagement is the practice of actively bringing community voices into decisions that affect or interest them. The most effective walking plans involve a cross-section of professionals and community members from the outset. Depending on the area, it may be appropriate to involve various community representatives and professionals.

Community representatives

• Walking advocacy groups
• Disability advocacy groups
• NZ Police community constables
• Elected members
• Community board representatives
• Local iwi representatives
• Representatives from local walking and running clubs, schools
• Invited members of the public, including local people with lived experience of disability, youth, and older people

Professionals

• Urban planners
• Transportation engineers and planners
• Road safety officers/coordinators
• Accessibility experts
• Public transport operators
• Regional Council and Waka Kotahi representatives

Community stakeholders should not be selected solely on the basis of whether they have any specialist or technical knowledge of pedestrian-related issues.

Further guidance on how to engage with stakeholders and the community is provided in the following sections:

PNG: Engagement

PNG: Disability sector engagement