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Why walking matters

Benefits of walking

Benefits include:

  • promoting health and wellbeing
  • reducing congestion and providing increased transport capacity, resilience and savings
  • providing an alternative transport option that is accessible to everybody
  • increasing economic growth and vitality, and saving money for individuals
  • creating opportunities for tourism experiences
  • reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air, noise and water pollution
  • increasing social connections and enhancing community safety.
  • Queensland Walking Strategy 2019-2029, Benefits of walking, page 5 (Department of Transport and Main Roads, 2019)

Other useful resources

Who walks and why?

Different age groups have different reasons for walking:

  • toddlers
  • children
  • teenagers/students
  • young adults
  • adults
  • older people.

There are also differences between genders.

TMR endorsed guidance

Other useful resources

Types of walking

There are two main reasons for walking:

  • transport (e.g. to get to work, school or the shops or to access public transport)
  • recreation and relaxation (e.g. walking a dog, walking for exercise or window shopping).

TMR endorsed guidance

Barriers to walking

Barriers include:

  • physical barriers e.g. distance to destination, and lack of smooth paths, shade or seating
  • vehicle traffic speed and volume, and infrastructure that is unsafe to cross or adequately separated from traffic
  • personal barriers e.g. unsuitable climate, not enough time, physical/mental conditions or don’t feel safe.

TMR endorsed guidance

Other useful resources

Opportunities to increase walking

Opportunities include:

  • improving infrastructure for walking
  • improving amenity of walking environments
  • increasing safety for people walking
  • using policy and planning to require connected and comfortable walking environments
  • providing education and encouragement for people to walk more.

TMR endorsed guidance

  • Walking: What Queenslanders Told Us, Section 2.3 Barriers to Walking and Section 2.2 Opportunities to increase walking and Table 1: Opportunities and barriers and for walking by key themes (Department of Transport and Main Roads, 2020)

Physical activity and mental health

Walking should be an easy and accessible way for Queenslanders to help achieve the recommended amount of physical activity required to reduce their risk of chronic disease and obesity.

Walking connects us socially, makes us happier and improves mental wellbeing. Physically active people report being happier and less anxious. They have a stronger sense of social integration.

TMR endorsed guidance

Other useful resources

Last updated
01 September 2021