The document discusses the economic benefits of improving streets and public spaces to prioritize pedestrians over cars. It notes that increased foot traffic on high streets from better walking environments can boost retail sales by up to 30%. Examples are given of cities where reallocating street space to walking and public transportation led to increased footfall and economic activity. The conclusion emphasizes that a focus on people and place quality is critical for local economies, and restricting polluting vehicles is important since poor air quality deters human activity and spending. Better data is still needed to understand these relationships fully to guide policy changes.

1. The Pedestrian Pound: Delivering a
Breath of Fresh Air For The High Street
Stuart Hay
Edinburgh December 2018

2. OuR Heritage

3. Traffic in Towns 1964Tackling the
environmental
impacts of
traffic (1964)

4. Traffic is a 21st century societal problem
Source: RCEP
2007

5. Too many cars = too many trips to
hospital

6. Traffic congestion and pollution is seen
as a sign of economic vitality

7. Planning for car base retail is
planning for pollution and ill health
Not sustainable
economic growth

8. Driving towards a bright economic
future?
Craigleith Retail Park, Edinburgh June 2018

9. Foot traffic delivers
economic vitality
too

10. Better streets for walking
= a better economy
• UK high streets 22%
footfall decline 2007-
2017
• Improved streets 20-
35% boost in footfall
• Sales for retail can
increase by 30%

11. Walking is an important mode of transport
Source; Transform Scotland

12. Moving
more
people,
efficiently

13. More smaller trips add up

14. No parking no problem
The Shoreditch parklet 20% increase in takings
over three months
Image: https://zeroemissionsnetwork.com/len/new-parklet-shoreditch

15. Better places better takings
Sheffield Peace gardens 35% uplift in footfall and
net increase of spending of £4.2m
Image Pete Quinn https://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_quinn1/26310194677

16. Sustainable
streets are
people
streets
Image: TFL 2018

17. Economic Efficiency
Oxford Circus: Cost £3.9m – Estimated benefits
£5.4m 1:1.4 Retailer cited turnover benefits + 25%

18. New York Space
Reallocation
48% increase in sales Nicholas
and Amsterdam Avenues

19. Revitalising Scottish High Streets
Kelso 28% increase in footfall

20. People not cars, not yet?
Kirkintilloch: 25% in people viewing the high street as a
good retail area. Pedestrians waiting too long down from
61% to 27%

21. Changing behaviour is critical for success
Change
attitudes to
place and
mobility
Restrict
polluting
vehicles

22. Shifting
perception
because
better data,
= better
decisions
Image TFL 2018

23. Changing
perceptions
changing behaviour
Paris goes car free

24. Conclusion 1:
Focus on
people
Economic change is
about people and
places not more of
the same
Successful places will
maximise
accessibility to
attract people … not

25. Human
activity is
economic
activity

26. Conclusion 2: Place quality is
critical
Poor air quality will be very detrimental to local
place economies
Image Friends of the Earth Scotland 2018

27. Would you
take your
kids to an
air quality
manageme
nt zone to
have fun!
Future economic health warning!

28. Conclusion 3: More economic data
needed
We need to better understand the carrots if we are
going to use big sticks
https://www.azquotes.com/quote/858604

30. Thank You
The Pedestrian pound
https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/who-
we-are/reports-and-research
TFL high street research
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/walking-
cycling-economic-benefits-summary-
pack.pdf
Stuart Hay
Director Living Streets Scotland
Stuart.hay@Livingstreets.org.uk