Wheeling refers to people using wheelchairs or mobility scooters. When we talk about walking, we include running and moving with a pram or pusher. Collectively, people walking and wheeling are often referred to as ‘pedestrians’.
A large proportion of short trips could be walked/wheeled and even for longer trips - whether the main mode of transport is by private car, public transport or cycling - the road user is a ‘pedestrian’ at some stage of their journey.
The South Australian Walking Strategy 2022-2032 identifies that there is a need to invest in walking for economic benefits, a stronger local economy and city attractiveness for tourism and visitation.
City Plan sets out a significant increase in residential and worker populations. It has a priority of transport diversity with improved walkable experience, setting out objectives for:
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Providing improved pedestrian facilities will give people safer and more equitable choices about how they travel to, from, and within Adelaide. It will contribute to improving the overall liveability of our city for everyone.
More people walking and wheeling in Adelaide will create numerous benefits:
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| Public health and wellbeing[1]
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| Liveability and sustainable growth
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| Environmental
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| Economic
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| Equity, access and inclusion
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[1] Healthy Streets Framework, Lucy Saunders
Opportunities
The CoA recognises the criticality of reducing carbon emissions by creating healthier streets so more people choose to walk/wheel rather than drive. There is an aim to double the number of residents who walk to work by 2031.
Seven key strategic moves have been identified to support more people choosing to walk/wheel:
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| Optimise our streets to create more comfortable spaces for people walking/wheeling. Establish principles for prioritising the use of street space for different purposes, including walking, cycling, parking, greening, on-street dining, and shared micromobility parking. |
 | Implement safer speed limits, seeking Safe System alignment to make streets more comfortable and enjoyable for people walking/wheeling as well as quieter with reduced vehicle emissions. |
 | Establish walking/wheeling networks that outline associated infrastructure requirements (e.g. path widths), based on place value (informed by City Plan) and proximity to destinations such as schools, supermarkets and public transport. |
 | Create healthier, child-friendly streets around schools and adjacent residential areas to support local walkability and active travel to school. |
 | Develop travel behaviour change programs for schools and for new residents, to establish and maintain active travel habits. |
 | Create safer pedestrian crossings which aim to slow down motor vehicles and reduce pedestrian wait times at new and existing sites. |
 | Enhance and promote walking/wheeling routes to increase tourist and visitor potential and community enjoyment of our streets and places. Increase greening, wayfinding and points of interest/public art. |
Some streets do not have enough space for comfortable walking/wheeling with obstructions and potential hazards including light poles, outdoor dining, A-frames and e-scooters left on footpaths.
- It can be uncomfortable, especially for people with disability, mixing with people cycling/scootering on footpaths and shared paths.
- Lack of shade and rest amenities like seats can detract from user experience.
- Long waits at intersections and crossings cause delay and discomfort. There are often large distances between crossings and lack of direct crossings to some bus stops.
- The presence of motor vehicles including noise and emissions, and associated safety concerns are a key barrier to walking/wheeling, especially for children, older adults and people with disability.
- Busy roads create severance: barriers to movement and access.
- Currently people are driving short distances. 5% of workers in CoA are resident workers. Based on distance, they could walk to work but 35-38%[1] are driving to work. With a growing residential (worker) population, unless more people walk (or ride or use public transport), congestion will increase.
- Some people, especially women and gender diverse people, feel unsafe walking at night on some streets and within the Park Lands, and during male sports events.
[1] Census 2016 and 2021
