Walking toward urban solutions What would it take to incorporate walking back into our daily routine? A guidebook which offers holistic solutions for improving urban pedestrian environments in Europe may bring back a positive trend. Climate Change and Environment © Shutterstock European cities are hotbeds of traffic congestion, lack of parking spaces, noise and pollution. These modern problems began as early as the 1950s when the use of cars increased dramatically. Convenience and luxury come at a price. The cost in this case is a multitude of problems including lowered quality of life, social exclusion and the degeneration of urban areas. One simple solution is to bring back the natural and pleasant activity of walking as a means to get around. Public transport use over longer distances decreases pollution. Needless to say there are many additional benefits to walking. It's an effective boost to physical fitness and the best way to take in all that European cities have to offer. The main goal of the Prompt project was to promote walking in cities as an answer to urban problems encountered across Europe. The approach was in-depth and analytical. It took into account both what enhances walking and what hinders it and designed tools accordingly. Stemming from this is a handy guidebook. This is an optimal way to offer support for urban designers, planners and decision-makers in their efforts to promote walking in European cities. Problems that may hinder walking are pinpointed so that safer, more accessible, comfortable and attractive alternative environments can be proposed. By providing better infrastructure for pedestrians, the answers to many urban problems may be just steps away.
