The Mayor of London and Transport for London have published a new Walking and Wheeling Action Plan, setting out proposals to improve walking infrastructure across the capital over the next decade.
The plan outlines how the mayor, TfL and London’s boroughs will work together to make walking and wheeling safer, easier and more accessible. The boroughs are responsible for the majority of London’s streets, meaning the plan will be delivered through local collaboration.
Key measures include delivering 1,000 new pedestrian crossings by 2031 and expanding School Streets to approximately 1,000 schools. The plan also includes developing a new river walking route by 2029, transforming town centres through a speed reduction programme, and supporting boroughs to deliver 50 area-wide neighbourhood schemes by 2031.
Other commitments include tackling pavement clutter from dockless bikes, improving walking routes to bus stops and stations, and strengthening action on women’s safety through CCTV trials and safety audits.
Walking is currently the most common way people travel in London, accounting for 38% of all trips. However, TfL acknowledges that many Londoners are discouraged by road danger, poor crossings, fear of crime and inaccessible pavements. The plan aims to address these barriers, with particular attention to disabled people, older Londoners and communities facing greater inequalities.
The plan supports the mayor’s ambition for 80% of trips to be made by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041.
Since the first Walking Action Plan was published in 2018, TfL has worked with boroughs to deliver a range of improvements. These include adding a 15-mile Green Link Walk to the Walk London network, supporting over 100,000 Londoners to access walking and cycling through grant programmes, and expanding School Streets to more than 800 locations. The proportion of primary school journeys made on foot has reached 63%, exceeding previous targets.
Several major projects in central London are also underway, including the transformation of Lambeth Bridge. Work on the bridge itself is due to be completed within the next few weeks.
The plan will be delivered through close collaboration between TfL, the mayor’s office and London’s boroughs, with local authorities identifying and prioritising areas for improvement based on community needs.
Christina Calderato, Director of Transport Strategy at TfL, said: ‘Walking is already at the heart of how Londoners get around, but we know too many people are still put off by safety concerns, poor crossings or inaccessible streets. This new plan sets out how we’ll change that by making it easier and more pleasant to walk for everyday journeys, whether that’s getting to school, the station or the local high street. By working in partnership with boroughs and communities, we can create streets that are safer, more inclusive and better for everyone.’
Photo: Laura Lezman
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