Pavements are for people. And as the UK charity for walking, we are their biggest champion.

If you share our passion, please support our Christmas Appeal with a donation.

For more than 50 years we have made the case for a default nationwide ban on pavement parking. Alongside this we have been a constant advocate for protecting pavements from all types of obstruction, from redundant signage to excessive bins.

We have never seen such momentum behind this issue. On pavement parking, Scotland has introduced new laws against it, Wales has plans to regulate it, and in England we are calling for the outcome of a consultation on new rules to end it.

Meanwhile we've been calling on councils to cut all pavement clutter to prioritise space for walking and wheeling - the cheapest, greenest and healthiest form of transport there is. 

But we need to finish the job. Next year will be a critical one for pavements. And we need your help to keep the momentum.
 

Support our Christmas Appeal

 

"It's like doing a slalom along the pavement!"

One supporter, Helen from West Lothian, told us about clutter on her local High St, the kind of thing which many of us take for granted now.

“There is no clear line of site along the path. People need to go around one obstacle which then puts the next in their way. It is a case of doing a slalom along the pavement. Black bins are similar colour as the pavement so difficult to see for some, too, while the advertising signs stick out into the pavement area which could be a trip hazard. “

A history of winning

Zebra crossings. Urban speed limits. The driving test. These major achievements wouldn’t have happened without Living Streets members. We need more members now to make an even bigger change. Walk with us!

Small steps = big outcomes  
£1 invested in our schools work delivers £5 in health, air quality, carbon and traffic reduction benefits. 

Volunteer campaign success 
After work from London Living Streets Local Group a programme of wait time reviews was undertaken by Transport for London at all signalised crossings in London. Now pedestrians are given more priority at crossings across the capital.

20mph speed limit in Wales
Living Streets Cymru was a key part of the Welsh Government task force group that made recommendations for a default 20mph speed limit for residential roads in Wales. As a result, eight locations in Wales are trailing default 20mph roads ahead of government plans for a national roll out in 2023.

And of course Living Streets Scotland’s pavement parking campaign...
In 2019 the Scottish Government banned pavement parking across the country, after a long campaign from Living Streets Scotland. Scotland is the first place in the UK outside London to tackle the issue pavement parking, helping to make pavements safe and accessible for all users. We are now working to ensure the ban is enacted as soon as possible.

None of this would have been possible without the campaigning of Living Streets members since the organisation was founded in 1929. 

Why walking?

  • Walking is the cheapest, greenest, healthiest transport there is. Everyone should be able to choose an active, healthy and stress-free life without a car. So if we are serious about levelling up, we must be looking to make our streets safer for everyone -  especially those who are most at risk of harm.
  • Poor air quality causes almost 64,000 early deaths in the UK every year.
  • Pedestrians accounted for 43% of fatalities and 30% of serious injuries on built up roads in England in 2019 with almost 5,300 pedestrians killed or seriously injured on England’s roads.
  • Emissions from road transport made up around a fifth of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The school run alone is responsible for half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually in the UK, more than some small countries.
  • Walking and cycling make you feel healthier, happier and less anxious. Reduce the risk factors for a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, some cancers, and Type II diabetes. Have mental health and neurological benefits including reduced risk of dementia, improved sleep quality, and a greater sense of wellbeing.

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