Zurich Conference

EVERYDAY WALKING CULTURE
ZURICH – WHERE WALKING IS NATURAL
Zurich is well-known as a city with a walking culture. The beautiful historical Old Town with its large pedestrian zone, the lovely lakeside promenade and the excellent public transport system are examples of best practice that have been developed to support the culture of the city, whose inhabitants are less likely to own a car and more likely to walk everyday than people in other cities.

Walking is more than just a healthy and environmentally friendly way to move around: Walking is an all encompassing sensory experience and the Zurich conference will inspire debates and provide an engaging
experience, exploring the unique combination of slow culture qualities.

EVERYDAY WALKING CULTURE
focused on the planned implementation of walking into daily life by technical, political and structural means.
The Conference aims were:
To increase recognition, in the opinion of public representatives, experts and policy-makers, of the positive contribution that walking makes to everyday city activities.
To help walking issues be appreciated as positive and trend-setting components of life.

CONFERENCE THEMES

• WALKING CULTURE AND POLITICS
  How can we establish a walking culture and create a positive image of walking?
  What effective traffic interventions can be made to increase walking, and how do we turn visions of a new walking culture into practice?
• HEALTH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND LEISURE
  What are the effects of walking on our physical and mental well-being? Which measures have to be taken to make everyday walking as habitual as brushing your teeth?
  How can we organise the city so that more journeys are made on foot?
• SUBURBAN WALKING AREAS
  What are the planning and political requirements needed to increase walking activities on the outskirts of towns and cities?
  How can we improve suburban walking areas to make them more safe, secure and comfortable for walkers?
  
• INTERMODALITY
  How are pedestrians linked with the public transport system, and what is necessary to provide a smooth and secure change between the different
  means of transportation?
  What political and institutional changes are needed to further integrate walking with public transport?