STEP Conference 2015 - Stuart Hay, Living Streets - Walking: Can Simple Steps Cut Emissions?
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Transcript of STEP Conference 2015 - Stuart Hay, Living Streets - Walking: Can Simple Steps Cut Emissions?
VISION
• Tackling the decline in walking
• Making walking the natural choice
• Helping people enjoy and benefit from the simple act of walking
• Creating changes, big and small, to make streets fit for walking
A walking nation where all generations walk on streets that are fit for walking by:
WALKING INITIATIVES
• Our Walk to School project instills good habits that can last a lifetime
• Our community street audits identify changes that are often easy to put right and will get people walking
• Our expertise helps put walking at the heart of public policy from a national to a local level
Delivering results
INTRODUCTION
1. Walking and behaviour change
2. Applying the theory – the walk to school
3. Achieving deeper changes
Behaviour change walking & emission reduction
POTENTIAL TO CUT EMISSIONS1. In 2013, 23% were made on foot
2. But 50% of all trips were less than a very walkable 3kmReference: Transport Scotland, August 2014
Places with high emissions and congestion also usually have high levels of walking or potential for more walking!
WHY SCHOOL JOURNEYS MATTER1. Nearly a quarter of morning peak car journeys
2. Journeys in small town / city (primary) catchments are short
3. Critical journey for parents / influences overall travel choices
4. 1/3 parent AM journeys are the school drop-off only
5. Long-term influence on children's own beliefs and perceptions of social norms
Travel to School in 2014: Hands Up Survey Data (Sustrans / Scot Gov
Unhealthy Travel / higher emissions
Healthy Travel / zero emissions
INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTIONS
1. Kids feel walking to school isn’t cool
2. Cycling is perceived as cool / aspirational but safe infrastructure isn’t available
3. Parents don’t believe walking to school is safe (traffic & stranger danger)
4.There are exaggerated perceptions of time and distance
SOCIAL NORMS
1. Car culture: cars marketed specially for the school run
2. Lack of critical mass – ‘nay pals’ walking to school not fun
3. Perceptions / fears about being seen as a reckless parent
4. Illegal parking, reckless and aggressive driving is still acceptable near children
Established attitudes about walking to school
• Fun educational activities that fit with the Curriculum for Excellence
• Badges made from recycled yoghurt pots
• Integrated online journey recording and reporting via Travel Tracker matches national survey mode choices!
• Cost effective and easily measurable impact – less than £2 per pupil per year
Sept 2015 Badge - Kyle (6) from Clermiston Primary School, Edinburgh
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE TOOLS
• Currently active 21 LAs in Scotland
• Over 20,000 pupils regularly participate in the scheme
• 55,000 pupils in more than 351 are schools registered to take part from Autumn 2015
PROGRAMME REACH
EVALUATING WOW
“In controlled analysis, there is a statistically significant increase in recorded active travel rates in wow schools from September 2011 to September 2012 … that is not apparent in matched non-wow schools starting at a similar level of active travel”
Impacts on behaviour after one term
IMPACT ON CAR USE
•“Drop in car use from 39% to 27%”•£4.17 of benefits for every £1 spent, due to health and congestion benefits
Living Streets: Internal Evaluation 2015 for Programmes in England
CHALLENGES
1. Long travel to work distances and times
2. Safe routes to school are in place - but not perceived as safe
3. Impact of traffic volumes and speed reinforce perceptions
4. Lack of child care, flexible drop off and pick up times. Family friendly employment
5. Planning for larger schools / bigger catchments to achieve economies of scale
Material barriers to walking to school
CONCLUSION
1. Its critical to challenge negative individual beliefs whilst reinforcing positive ones
2. Establishing positive and reinforcing social norms, around active travel is important
3. Putting the right infrastructure in place, in partnership with users / communities – including 20mph and street closures
Behaviour change for emissions reduction
THANK YOU
Tel. 0131 243 2646
@LStreetsScot
Stuart Hay, Director Living Streets Scotland