Characteristics of walking strategies affecting their usefulness and effect: Studies of walking strategies in Haugesund, Trondheim, and Ås

Walking as a means of transport is becoming more relevant and important. Many municipalities develop their own walking strategies to get more people walking and to improve the experience of walking. In this report, we have examined what characteristics of walking strategies affect whether they become effective tools in municipal planning. Recommendations for developing walking strategies can be summarized as: The walking strategy should have a long-term and holistic strategic part and a more short-term and concrete action plan that is revised frequently; The municipality should make the walking strategy itself; The walking strategy should be broadly anchored; Involve multiple municipal departments and other relevant actors in the preparation of the walking strategies; Participation from the population is important – mapping of where children walk and mapping of data and planned interventions are tolls to engage; Campaigns that are conducted anyway should be included as part of the walking strategy.