Abstract
Walking is widely promoted as a healthy and sustainable way to get around. Still, although the benefits of walking are undisputed, it is equally known that most people walk much less than they could and should do. This article explores this discrepancy from the angle of human behaviour change processes and applies a theoretically grounded systematics for identifying the most important barriers against walking. This is followed by a description of behaviour types and related behaviour change motives to inspire strategies and arguments to address different types of target groups. The proposed framework can support the selection of measures and strategies to increase walking in different environments and addressing specific social groups.
Highlights
Walking is the most natural type of movement and has been the primary form of locomotion for almost the entire history of the modern homo sapiens (Kelly, Murphy and Mutrie, 2017)
Between the last two large national mobility surveys in Austria in 1995 and 2013/2014, for example, the national modal split saw growth in every category of transport modes except walking, while the share of trips on foot dropped by 35% in this time span (Tomschy R. et al, 2016)
This is happening despite increasing efforts to promote active travelling and a high awareness regarding the benefits of walking in the population
Summary
The benefits of walking are undisputed, it is known that most people walk much less than they could and should do. This article explores this discrepancy from the angle of human behaviour change processes and applies a theoretically grounded systematics for identifying the most important barriers against walking. This is followed by a description of behaviour types and related behaviour change motives to inspire strategies and arguments to address different types of target groups.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
