Step by step: Walking towards an active future

The Palaszczuk Government has bolstered its commitment to walking with the release of Queensland’s second walking action plan.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey praised Queenslanders for the strong uptake of active transport for health, recreation and travel.

“More and more people are making the move to walking – whether it’s to the bus stop, school, the local shops or for exercise, our new action plan contains practical actions to help make walking the easy choice,” Mr Bailey said.

“This uptake is more important than ever as we battle with having one of the most sedentary generations in history.

“We need to see more walking in the lives of Queenslanders, and what better way to do that than invest in the infrastructure needed to do it.

“We want to encourage more people to walk no matter where you are in Queensland, so we will continue to build on our previous two-year plan, released in 2019.

“Our previous action plan contained 44 initiatives and build a strong foundation for future investment and initiatives.

“A further 35 practical and targeted actions are laid out in the 2022 action plan, which will outline how we invest over the next two years and help to ensure our investment return maximum benefits.”

Mr Bailey praised the progress already made across government departments, local government and the community.

“Big steps have been made over the past two years in delivering more active transport projects like rail trails, footpaths, shared path infrastructure, micromobility reform and much more,” he said.

“A lot of these achievements have come to life through our work with local governments in delivering the infrastructure communities need as part of our grant program.”

Mr Bailey said the action plan included:

• delivering new planning grants to support local governments to improve walking environments around schools, public transport stops, shops and town centres
• promoting more shade for people walking
• improving the interaction between people walking and those using personalised mobility devices, such as e-scooters
• encouraging more people to walk to and from school through the Safe School Travel program
• recognising high quality projects that support walking as part of the Minister's Award for Urban Design
• planning for strong active transport outcomes from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Queensland Walks Executive Officer, Anna Campbell, said she congratulated the Queensland Government on its continued investment in walking through the new action plan.

“We support Minister Bailey’s commitment to improve walking environments in urban, regional and town centres in Queensland,” she said.

“It is a clear signal of the Queensland Government’s support for inclusive, equitable and sustainable transport like walking, and a solid investment for every single Queenslander.”

Key achievements to date:

• piloting and publishing walking network planning guidance to identify the best routes and projects around important destinations such as town centres, public transport stations and schools
• assisting local governments to lower speed limits in areas where many people walk
• piloting smart crossings to vary crossing times for people walking
• releasing a model code for neighbourhood design to create more walkable neighbourhoods
• supporting groups including 10,000 Steps to encourage walking through individual and workplace participation and community engagement
• assisting to deliver the Eco Tourism Trails Program, which progresses iconic ecotourism experiences such as the Wangetti Trail and the Cooloola Great Walk

For more information, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Pedestrians-and-walking.

ENDS

WALKING FAST FACTS

• It’s estimated Queenslanders walk more than 682 million kilometres each year.
• If you walk 9000 steps a day, it will equate to walking around the Earth 3.5 times in an average lifetime.
• 1 in 5 Queensland adults walk for recreation.
• Over 83% of trips to and from public transport are made by walking.
• Walking for an average of 30 minutes or more a day can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
• Queensland has more than 10 Great Walks covering world heritage areas and national parks from Currumbin to Cooktown.

MEDIA CONTACT: Courtney Thompson - 0433 585 570