Tips for Staying Safe when Walking
Walking is not only a sustainable mode of transport but also a healthy choice that contributes to a cleaner environment. We’ve put together some top tips to help you feel confident and safe when using active travel to get around.
Whether you're walking to school, work, or simply enjoying a stroll, these will help you feel confident and secure on the roads.
Tips for walking safely:
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Do you know the Green Cross Code? It’s important to know this and teach your children the code, to make sure they are confident when out walking and can cross the road safely. Visit our Road Safety Resources page to find more useful information.
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No matter where you’re going, make sure you plan your route! This can help you to make the most of the wonderful footpaths in our borough and avoid busy roads when you’re walking. Try our helpful journey planner and take a look at our new speed route maps.
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If you’re walking in the dark, it’s really important to make sure you’re visible:
- Wear reflective or bright clothing;
- Attach reflective stickers or keyrings to your bag and/or clothing;
- Avoid wearing dark clothes.
This will help to make sure you are visible to other road users. Make sure you stick to well-lit paths and busy routes or main roads where possible.
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If you’re somewhere you might need to walk on the road, such as a country lane, walk facing traffic, on the right-hand side of the road. However, it’s best to walk on the pavement whenever you can!
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Stay aware - don’t listen to really loud music or play on your phone while you walk, as tempting as it might be! Keep an eye out for cyclists, runners and other road users.
For more information on walking and cycling in your local area, visit the My Journey Wokingham Walking page and the My Journey Wokingham Cycling page. Here you’ll find listings of local walking and cycling groups, tips, and insights to further enhance your active travel experience.
Teaching Children to Walk Safely:
It's important to teach children and young people about safe walking. Organisations like RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) offer valuable resources to help with this, like the Active Travel Hub resources for practitioners: RoSPA Active Travel Hub.
See the My Journey online and interactive resources for teaching children to walk safely for more information: Road Safety Resources.
Enjoy exploring our borough and stay safe!