seven - The place of walking in the urban environment

Summary

Why people walk

As shown in Chapter Six, respondents to the questionnaire survey tend to associate walking with enjoyment and this is a view replicated in many of the interviews undertaken during the qualitative phase of the research. However, although respondents frequently expressed positive views about walking, implying that they walk because they like to do so, in most cases walking is conditional. It occurs at certain times, in particular places and for specific reasons. Clearly walking is only practicable for relatively short trips, but even the most enthusiastic pedestrians set limits that are not purely related to the distance travelled. In this section we explore the reasons that respondents give for walking and the situations in which they find it a positive experience. The times and places where people do not commonly walk are then examined in later sections of the chapter. Most frequently walking is associated with general feelings of wellbeing: it gives time and space to think, to clear the head, and to relax after a day's work (Box 7.1). These views were expressed by respondents in all four towns. Some respondents compared walking to driving, which they found less relaxing and more stressful, and several respondents placed particular emphasis on engagement with the environment; for example Holly who deliberately extends her walk because of enjoyment of the experience. One factor that is implicit in many statements, and is made explicit by Molly, is the issue of control: she feels that walking provides her with independence and freedom. The concept of ‘locus of control’ is central to much research in social psychology and related areas (Lefcourt, 1976; Ajzen, 2002; Chen and Wang, 2007), arguing that people establish stronger feelings of wellbeing and satisfaction when they perceive themselves to be in control of a situation. This is most often applied in contexts such as the workplace or healthcare, but is just as relevant to everyday travel. As argued in Chapter Two, the ability to take control of one's everyday mobility was an important component of the popularity of the bicycle in the 1940s and 1950s, and also of the motor car from the 1960s. When walking is perceived as offering the same advantages it can become a powerful reason for using this means of travelling.