distances) into the GCC website. The site adds individual step counts to their team total then converts this to a kilometre/mile distance, and plots the team’s progression along a virtual tour of the world. The more active they are, the further they go, the healthier they become, the more productive your organisation becomes. Participants are also encouraged to look at eating habits and are supported to change to a healthier diet with daily information, and weekly eating plans. Travel by public transport decreased during the Challenge by an average of 62.5%; and Of all possible changes to travel behaviour, the change was from driving a fossil fuelled motor vehicle to walking (57%). Bendigo Community Health Service ‘Go for your life’ Walking Program The Bendigo Community Health Service ‘Go for your life’ Walking Program was established in March 2006 through ‘Go for your life’ funding. The goal of the program was to increase physical activity levels and enhance the mental health and wellbeing of the residents of the City of Greater Bendigo during 2006 and 2007. Participants were targeted through a range of social marketing strategies. Before commencing the program, a Physical Activity/Lifestyle Assessment was conducted by BCHS staff. There are currently between 30 and 40 walkers meeting to walk twice a week for at least an hour. BCHS conducted both process evaluation to measure participants’ satisfaction and reach of the program, and impact evaluation to examine the changes that occurred. A total of 25 walking group attendees participated in the evaluation over a 12 month period. Participants reported they felt that physical and mental health had improved over the 12 months since joining the walking program 85% of participants reported at 6 and 12 months that they had increased walking distance since joining the walking program 88% reported numerous reasons why they were motivated to continue walking, such as the opportunity to meet new people, keep active, the increased feeling of physical activity, wellbeing and fitness, and the friendliness of the group 75% of the walkers had also participated in other services provided by BCHS. Walk Together Grant 2007: Walk The Walk for Wellness Program received ‘Go for your life’ funding for 2008 Evaluation of the Rye Coastal Walk identified that:
pedestrian crossings to ensure that crossings were installed on pedestrians desire lines and to widen pavements where pedestrian numbers warranted road space reallocation Pedestrian use of assigned crossing areas had risen 56% Informal crossings away from assigned crossing areas had fallen 61% Overall crossings had risen by 9% All parties believed that the overall accident risk has been substantially reduced and that, as the roads have become easier to cross, the impact of community severance has also been reduced London Millennium Bridge, UK (2000) The Millennium Footbridge connects Tate Modern on the Bank with St Paul’s Cathedral on the north side of the River Thames. The bridge is 320m long and cost £18 million to build. One estimate had suggested that around 10,000 people per day would use the bridge – these estimates proved conservative. Up to 5,000 people an hour cross the bridge at peak times. Addenbrooke’s Hospital workplace travel plan, UK The hospital employs 4,500 people and the travel plan sought to set targets for changes in travel behaviour away from the car to improve accessibility for staff, patients and visitors. Addenbrooke’s Hospital invested in car sharing, ran promotional events for bus travel and improved the walking infrastructure. The objectives of the plan were: to increase travel choices and make them safe and accessible for all to reduce demand for car parking to encourage healthy transport options to reduce the environmental impact of the travel needs of the campus Between 1993 and 2003, car use fell from 74% to 42% with walking increasing from 4% to 7%. Walking the way to Health An initiative to get people, in areas of poor health or low exercise, walking for leisure. The local walks are usually Evaluations indicate numerous benefits from increased stamina, mobility, and health related quality of life to mental health. In addition