About

WalkSydney is a community group advocating for walkability in Greater Sydney (Wollongong to Newcastle, and the Coast to the Blue Mountains). We are a non-profit organisation, governed by a Committee.

Our vision

Walking will be convenient, accessible, safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Our Mission

WalkSydney works to influence the infrastructure, policies, decision making processes and institutions that shape the walking environment in Greater Sydney to overcome the physical, social and institutional barriers that may limit people’s choices to walk.

We provide advice and recommendations to state and local governments and information to citizens about the benefits of walking and options to improve walking in Sydney.

The problem

Greater Sydney is highly car-dependent and the design of our roads makes active travel modes difficult, unattractive, and unsafe. In Greater Sydney we have, over time, come to accept as normal vehicle speeds that are unsafe for walkers and bicycle riders. Our planning has failed to provide urban environments that encourage active transport and support safety, health, and environmental sustainability.

Main outcomes

WalkSydney seeks:

  • An urban environment designed to encourage and support active transport – access to parks, playing fields and other recreational and cultural facilities
  • Street designs that provide for the needs of people who walk, cycle and use public transport
  • Safer, slower streets, where the speed of motor vehicles is drastically reduced by legal, environmental, and physical measures to reduce the likelihood and consequences of collisions
    • Safe streets to schools so that children can walk or cycle to school
    • Safe streets to shops so that residents can meet their daily needs
    • Safe streets to parks so that everyone can participate in active recreation
    • Safe streets to public transport stops and stations so people can reach farther destinations without a car
  • Residential areas and streets developed for communities and not fragmented by traffic
  • Streets that are safe and easy to cross
  • Pedestrian priority over cars on existing and planned transport networks
  • Connected networks of urban pedestrian and cycling facilities
  • Shopping strips (‘high streets’) which are pleasant places to spend time
  • Streets that provide shade, quiet, and clean air
  • A city where residents feel less need to travel by car.