Walking as a Mode of Transport (Walking)
The objective of the ”Walking as a Mode of Transport” program is to strengthen international research and research capacity on walking as a mode of transport, in ways that can contribute to more equitable access and sustainable mobility in urban transport.
The program seeks to build a broad, international and interdisciplinary community of learning which encompasses both researchers and other stakeholders in this area, as well as to support and contribute to new knowledge among “next generation” scholars in walking research. Finally, an additional aim of the program is to strengthen research capacity on walking as a mode of transport in the Global South.
Aiming for a cogent direction
An important point of departure for VREF’s initiative are the indications that despite its ubiquitous presence in everyday life (particularly in the Global South), walking as a mode of transport has not received extensive research or policy attention to date. In addition, while walking has been a research topic in certain academic contexts for many years, work on walking as a mode of transport has not yet developed into a cogent research direction, area or subject in itself.
The Walking program will encompass research and other initiatives that focus on walking both in itself and as part of a travel chain that also includes other modes of transport, such as public transport.
The scientific profile of the program is built around four themes:
Theme 1: Conceptualizing and critically appraising walking as a mode of transport
Theme 2: Walking as transport in everyday urban life; equity issues
Theme 3: Governance, policy and urban planning for walking as a mode of transport
Theme 4: Services, tools and business models to facilitate walking as a mode of transport
”Walking as a Mode of Transport” – Roadmap for Program Implementation (pdf)
Studies etc. conducted during the preparatorial program development phase:
- Walking and Cykling Gaps in Transport Research – an international overview, Heather Allen 2021
- Walking as a Mode of Transport – Literature Review, Miles Tight
- Walking, The invisible transport mode? Research on Walking and Walkability today, Lake Sagaris et al 2022
- Library analysis report 2022 for VREF, Walk21 2022
Ongoing Call for Exploratory Projects:
VREF invites applications for research grants to support projects that will be implemented 2024 within the VREF program “Walking as a Mode of Transport”. This Call is the second one in the program and deadline for submission of applications is 15 September 2023. Projects will be carried out during a twelve-month period starting early 2024. Full information about the call is available here.