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May 2026 – National Walking Month

Every walk and every step, whether routine or spontaneous, carries significance: a quick dash to avoid the rain or a leisurely stroll that mirrors a wandering mind.

Each step relies on muscles for balance and is driven by intention, often influenced by external challenges such as a grassy uphill walk. The rhythm of the walk itself varies in timing, tempo, and pace, which makes walking both a universal experience and a uniquely personal journey.

Not everyone moves the same way, though. For some, mobility needs wheelchairs, aids, or help, and walking may be secondary. In these cases, independence is defined by how movement is enabled, supported, or adapted.

Walking presents an interesting paradox, making it a captivating topic for this month’s Hot Topic. In the UK, May is designated as National Walking Month. It is organised by Living Streets, a charity focused on making streets safer and more accessible for pedestrians.

The goal is not to reinvent walking or to advocate for extreme hiking, but rather to acknowledge the health benefits and factors that can make or break a walk, from a walkway underfoot to its suitability for foot function.

A Step Back In Time

Stepping back, National Walking Month did not appear spontaneously. Its origins date to 1929, when Living Streets began as the Pedestrians’ Association prior to 2001. With rising motor traffic, British streets were redesigned to prioritise speed. Walking often became an afterthought, with pedestrians confined to narrow, dim pavements used as makeshift parking or forced to gamble as they crossed dangerous roads.

Imagine a busy London street in the early 1990s. Numerous cars sit mounted on the pavement, leaving barely any space to keep walking. An elderly woman, shopping bag in hand, stopped short. There was no room to pass. To continue, she would have to step down into the road—into moving traffic—before stepping back up again further along. Nearby, a group of men see this and takes matters into their own hands. With effort and coordination, they began to lift and shift the vehicle, inching it off the pavement and back into the road where it belonged as though they were saving a beached whale.

The elderly woman in question was Faith Lawson (the chairperson of the Pedestrians’ Association). Watching intently, she notices a police officer stepping forward to intervene, so she decides to explain to the officer why the men are lifting the car to “reclaim the pavements”. The officer nods and keeps the peace from a distance.

This was one of many conflicts that were never resolved but had to be addressed, as traffic bottlenecks were not the only issue. A sharp rise in injuries and deaths led to the rapid introduction of the Highway Code in 1931, with help from the Pedestrians’ Association. While it reduced accidents, pedestrian responsibility evolved to mean that if you were hit, you likely should not have been there. This led to the defiant emergence of “jaywalking,” which is an American term for crossing the road in an unsafe or unofficial manner. Although it is not considered a crime in the UK, pedestrians are still expected to adhere to the Highway Code just as cars and bikes must.

To assist with this, the Green Cross Code was created as a simple guide to help people cross roads safely. Although it may seem obvious, this mention may remind some of hedgehogs or the Bee Gees.

Stepping Up and Walking Out

This is where National Walking Month walks onto the scene.

Originally framed around encouraging people to walk more for their physical and mental health, this campaign has gradually expanded as awareness of environmental issues, urban design, and public wellbeing has grown.

For example, women often navigate public spaces differently. Although they may undertake fewer traditional commuting trips than men, this does not indicate reduced mobility. Instead, their journeys are typically shorter, more frequent, and purpose-driven, structured around caregiving, errands, and coordination.

These are often known as encumbered journeys as they involve pushing pushchairs, carrying shopping, and holding hands with children. When these journeys occur on narrow pavements, uneven surfaces, or poorly designed crossings, the challenges become evident.

Observations consistently show that women, on average:

Make fewer commuting trips than men
Make more trips related to shopping and escorting children
Are more likely to carry loads or travel with dependents
Walk shorter distances per journey and rely more on public transport
Are less likely to walk at night
Feel significantly less safe in public spaces, with 71%–86% reporting experiences of sexual harassment

It is difficult to separate these statistics from the daily reminders of a grim reality. Cases such as the murder of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nesa brought national attention to what many already knew and lived with daily.

What followed was not just public grief and anger, but a familiar set of unwritten rules that are taught quietly and repeated often. Not official guidance, but social conditioning:

Avoid attracting attention

Avoid walking alone

Avoid walking in the dark

Avoid wearing jewellery

Avoid heels

Carry an alarm

Carry another phone

Do not walk unless you must

Do not stay out too late

Do not wear headphones

Go to the nearest busy place without delay

Hide jewellery

Keep keys close to hand

Know self-defence

Disclose your location and destination

Stay alert

Stay on the phone

Stay in bright areas

Use the quickest route

Trust nobody

Wear flat shoes to run

Notice a theme?

Individually, these suggestions may seem reasonable. In unison, they tell a different story. One where walking goes from a simple act to a more constant risk assessment.

To end this Hot Topic on a lighter note, this year encourages everyone—especially women—to “walk out”. Research shows that walking for 20 minutes a day helps to enhance cardiovascular fitness, improve mental health, strengthen bones, and, should the weather allow it, as it has recently, enjoy an ice cream or cold drink on a sunny day.

Because walking has never really been just about walking. It is about having the dignity and safety to enjoy the walk without feeling uneasy.

Discussion Points for Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing, Tolerance and Individual Liberty:

What does safeguarding look like in public spaces?
What does it take for you to feel safe in a public space?
What improvements can be made to make the streets equal for everyone?
Would more surveillance and cameras in shared spaces be a breach of privacy?
What was the best journey you have been on outdoors?
Can people truly walk anywhere?

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May 2026 – National Walking Month

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