Media release: The evidence supports investment in walking

Living Streets Aotearoa, the national pedestrian advocacy organisation, is very concerned about Transport Minister Simeon Brown's direction to NZTA (Waka Kotahi) to end funding for local councils' walking and cycling projects. This is a short-sighted, ideological decision that will come back to haunt the Government.

"The Minister will know that walking is part of every trip whether all the way on foot, by bus, train or ferry or in a car. Getting pedestrian infrastructure right has been shown to increase economic prosperity in CBDs, help children stay active and healthy on the way to school, and allow all of us to access the daily services we need," said Living Streets Aotearoa President Tim Jones. "We look forward to working with the Minister to develop new programmes that provide for walkable communities, which have been shown here and overseas to provide big benefits."

"Transport is the second-largest source of emissions in New Zealand, and walking is the lowest-carbon form of transport. Giving more people the opportunity to walk is better for our economy, better for our health, for our communities and will help the Government meet its emissions reductions commitments," Tim Jones pointed out.

"Living Streets welcomes the new Minister of Transport's statement that he supports evidence-based decision-making," Tim Jones concluded. "The evidence on the benefits of walking is clear. The Government should act to make our communities better, not worse, for everyone on foot."