History of Living Streets

Eighty years of campaigning for Living Streets

In 2001, we changed our name from the Pedestrians Association to Living Streets, but our ideals have remained the same. From its earliest days, the Pedestrians Association has been scoring successes on behalf of pedestrians. In the 1920s, our campaigns persuaded the Government to introduce the driving test, the 30mph urban speed limit and pedestrian crossings. The Association also helped write the very first Highway Code!

In 2009, as Living Streets carries its pedestrians campaign forward with the launch of many new local branches, community street audits and the campaign for "liveability", our organisation is now celebrating its 80th birthday. On the surface our modern vibrant organisation, which encapsulates the idea of "living streets" in its very name, is a wildly different one to that which was formed at a unique meeting in London in 1929.

However by taking a fascinating journey through our history Living Streets you can discover that throughout those 80 years, despite a rapidly changing country and some extraordinary world events, the central ethos of the founders of the Pedestrians Association has been constantly upheld.

The idea of protecting and promoting people's right to use their street, and therefore their way of life, is as relevant now as it was when those founders brought our organisation to life in the summer of 1929. Their passion and energy established the vision that Living Streets continues to strive for today.

Therefore why not find out more by reading a fascinating pamphlet about the first 75 years of our work? The document, produced by our volunteer historian Jon Spray, can be downloaded here:


The History of the Pedestrians Association, by Jon Spray PDF (949Kb)