News story

Give us this day our daily walk

Des de Moor's daily commute to work is on foot across south London from east to west, starting in New Cross and finishing at the The Ramblers headquarters on the Albert Embankment in Vauxhall.  He has devised his route around the Old Surrey Canal in Burgess Park, keeping to quieter residential roads and obscure links between housing estates and parks. 

It is the infrastructure of today's built environment that he feels is the greatest obstacle to getting more people walking everyday. As a keen walker he perceives the street environment as part of the challenge, but knows that those less keen on walking will give up on walking if routes aren't easily accessible and easy to follow.

Andrew Stuck from Rethinking Cities, joined Des on his commute one morning in December, and recorded the latest podcast to be published on Talking Walking.  Hear about Des's enthusiasms for getting people out and about on foot, and learn too about his parallel career as one of Britain's leading beer journalists.  Yes, he has written Pub walks but he also gets paid to sample beers from around the world!

In response to Des' challenge that the infrastructure of the built enviroment is the key obstacle to getting more people walking, Tony Armstrong, CEO at  Living Streets, talks about how the campaigning charity is now expanding its lobbying role, to include making neghbourhoods Fitter for Walking. This week Living Streets celebrates its 80th Anniversary as Britain's leading campaigners on behalf of the pedestrian. 

Listen to Des de Moor and Tony Armstrong talking walking - http://www.talkingwalking.net

Date added: 9 August 2009

Go to the list of news stories

Please feel free to recommend this news story to a friend or colleague.

© Copyright | Terms and conditions | Subscriptions | Accessibility