STEP's- Sustainable Transport Equity Partnerships

In cities in the global south, walking is often the only transport option available to people and makes up 70% of all journeys. But walking is becoming increasingly unsafe and unpleasant. Traffic injuries are leading cause of death in 15-24yr olds and cause 50m injuries per year, with up to 90% of road deaths occurring in low and middle income countries, despite these hosting only 48% of world’s vehicles (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, 2018).
Walkability improves the efficacy, efficiency and financial viability of the entire transport system and the vibrancy and livability of our cities, and yet walking is generally neither measured nor prioritized in transport policy or investment decisions. Our previous research with policy makers and planners in the Global South as part of the GCRF intalinc network identified a lack of evidence and case studies as a key barrier for cities wanting to address this challenge.
This Impact Acceleration Project worked with Walk21, an international walking campaign organisation, to unlock 19 years of evidence and data held by them and create an online and searchable database. The database supports researchers, NGOs and governments to improve walking conditions across the world. Through doing so the project is contributing to the delivery of the SDGs and be of benefit to the people who walk most, especially in low and middle-income countries, in order to reduce GHG emissions, improve the efficiency and appeal of public transport and deliver better public health and safety.