Sheffield people urged to Walk this May and take part in national initiative

At this time when we must stay alert to health related messaging, Walk this May is one of the better taglines, encouraging those of us who remember hybrid rap hits of the 1980s to take part in National Walking Month.
Walkers reach the top of the Meersbrook Park climb in 2017Walkers reach the top of the Meersbrook Park climb in 2017
Walkers reach the top of the Meersbrook Park climb in 2017

‘Walk from Home’ is a pretty effective slogan too, both from the Living Streets charity which promotes ‘everyday walking.’

“In a way this is a once in lifetime opportunity, when people are changing the way they’re moving about,” says Ian Loasby, who is setting up a Living Streets group for Sheffield.

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“In this terrible, unfortunate situation, if there’s any kind of silver lining it’s that many people are starting to discover they can walk to places.”

Sheffield City Region Active Travel director Pete Zanzottera and Richard Pilgrim (right) from the SYPTE active travel team walking through the resdesigned Fitzalan Square before the lockdownSheffield City Region Active Travel director Pete Zanzottera and Richard Pilgrim (right) from the SYPTE active travel team walking through the resdesigned Fitzalan Square before the lockdown
Sheffield City Region Active Travel director Pete Zanzottera and Richard Pilgrim (right) from the SYPTE active travel team walking through the resdesigned Fitzalan Square before the lockdown

Over recent weeks, people are enjoying the experience of exploring their local areas on foot, says Richard Pilgrim, who leads the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive active travel team, and walks three miles to work in the city centre.

He says: “For many people walking into town is downhill, and you know exactly how long it’s going to take you, then you get a bit exercise on your way home.

“And now, there’s going to be such a pressure on public transport that if you can commute a different way, its a perfect time to explore what you can do.”

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Sheffield City Region hosted a national online conference on walking and running last week, which revealed the potential for ‘everyday walking’, but also the deterrents.

Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley in 2019Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley in 2019
Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley in 2019

In Sheffield, almost a third of the population say they walk at least five times a week, but more than half of journeys of 1.5 kilometres – that can be walked in un der 20 minutes – are completed by car.

Dame Sarah Storey, SCR active travel commissioner, says: “For many people jumping in their car is just the default action for getting things done.

“Some people also find walking quite inconvenient because of the route they want to take not feeling safe.”

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Potential walk commuters are deterred by high-speed traffic, pavement car parking, and inconvenient multi stage road crossings, for example.

Ian Loasby of Living Streets in WalkleyIan Loasby of Living Streets in Walkley
Ian Loasby of Living Streets in Walkley

Mr Loasby says: “It can take me 15 minutes to get from one side of Brook Hill roundabout to another, because the timings are biased in favour of motor traffic.”

Making it easier and safer to walk to schools, and extend ing the 20mph speed limit to all residential roads, and roads serving shops, schools and leisure areas, would make walking feel safer for everyone, he says.

He says: “Where I live in Walkley, I see older people having to run across the main road to be safe.

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“It’s terrible to have a city where the road environment is more or less condemning some of our older people to stay indoors.”

Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley:Walk leader David Jones chatting to a fellow walker in 2019Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley:Walk leader David Jones chatting to a fellow walker in 2019
Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley:Walk leader David Jones chatting to a fellow walker in 2019

Sue Lee runs Step Out Sheffield, the largest volunteer-led walking programme in the UK, which in normal times runs short walks from 28 sites around the city for more than 900 regular walkers.

Participants are often retired, and appreciate the social as well as physical benefits of walking. Many are now maintaining those social contacts by phone while continuing to walk alone.

Ms Lee says: “We know walking gives good, all-round maintenance of physical health, and people getting into the habit of going out for a regular walk during lockdown will, I believe, lead to a collective improvement in people’s immune systems.”

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Steve Haake, SCR active travel advisory board chairman, says at least 10 per cent of the local population walk to work, adding that walking quickly is just as good for your heart and lungs as a gentle run.

However, Dame Sarah says, more needs to be done.

She and colleagues on Sheffield Council are working on measures to help people continue walking safely under social distancing guidelines, by changing light timings to favour walkers crossing busy roads, and extending pavement widths, for example.

Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley: Chair of Step out Sheffield Sue Lee talking to a fellow walker in 2019Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley: Chair of Step out Sheffield Sue Lee talking to a fellow walker in 2019
Step Out Sheffield Health Walk in Totley: Chair of Step out Sheffield Sue Lee talking to a fellow walker in 2019

However, in future, public spaces will need to change to make walking more convenient than driving short distances.

Ms Lee says: “I hope one legacy of this whole experience will be that people will incorporate exercise into their daily routines.”

The Sheffield Living Streets Group is on the lookout for volunteers – email [email protected]