National Walking Summit
THE 2020 NATIONAL WALKING SUMMIT WILL TAKE PLACE IN MANCHESTER ON FRIDAY, 6 MARCH
Is walking the miracle cure for our public health crisis?
Come and join experts from Greater Manchester and beyond as we discuss the link between making our streets fitter for walking and improved public health.
Could our transport choices save lives? Is walking the answer to all our health problems? How can we get more people walking and make them happier and healthier?
Greater Manchester's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Chris Boardman, will outline his priorities to create a healthier, more active region.
Professor Shane O’Mara will present the new science of how we walk and why it is good for us.
The day will also feature a stellar line-up of city leaders, transport planners, academics and public health experts.
The day will culminate with Living Streets' Annual General Meeting. Living Streets members are entitled to one free ticket.
£30 early bird tickets
available until
24 January 2020
Standard ticket price: £50. Living Streets Members can attend for free.
Our supporters
The 2020 National Walking Summit is supported by ARUP, Greater Manchester Walking Voice and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Join us in Manchester
Greater Manchester's Cycling & Walking Commissioner's welcome message.
Our draft agenda
9.15: Guided walking tour from station (optional)
9.45: Arrival and registration
10.15: Welcome and opening remarks
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
10.30: Keynote address: Getting Manchester Moving
Chris Boardman MBE, Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Greater Manchester
11.00: Living Streets report launch – Joe Irvin, Living Streets
11.15: How getting more people walking can improve public health. A panel discussion with active travel commissioners from across the UK. Speakers confirmed to date:
• Chris Boardman MBE
• Will Norman, Walking and Cycling commissioner, London
• Lee Craigie, Active Nation Commissioner, Scotland
• Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, Sheffield City Region
• Simon O’Brien, Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Liverpool City Region
12.15pm: Lunch and networking
1.15: Keynote: Walking as a superpower.
Prof Shane O’Mara, Neuroscientist, Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College Dublin and a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator
1.45: Panel discussion on: Is walking the miracle cure?
Public health experts from across the UK discuss the role walking has to play in tackling our public health crisis.
• Prof Shane O’Mara
• Dr Adrian Davis, Senior Fellow in Behaviour Change ＆ Translational Research, University of the West of England
• Carl Petrokofsky, FFPH, Specialist in Public Health, Health Equity and Mental Health Division, Public Health England
• Sarah Price, Executive Lead, Population Health and Commissioning, Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership
2.45: Campaigning in action – case studies from our grassroots campaigners
3.15: Living Streets Walking Champion – Charles Maher Award 2020
Thank you to our outgoing President and Vice President
3.30: AGM
4.00: Close and guided walking tour (optional)
Our speakers
More tbc
Chris Boardman, MBE, Greater Manchester Cycling and Walking Commissioner
Chris is an Olympic gold medallist, world-record holder and three-time Tour de France stage winner and became Head of Research and Development for the Great Britain Cycling Team, tasked with creating world-leading equipment and coaching methods.
In July 2017 he was appointed by Mayor Andy Burnham as Greater Manchester’s first ever Cycling and Walking Commissioner, while continuing in his role as a British Cycling’s policy advisor.
In December 2017 he published his ‘Made to Move’ report, setting out a 10-year, £1.5 billion plan to revolutionise the way we get around in Greater Manchester and make cycling and walking genuine alternatives to the car.
Shane O'Mara, Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College Dublin
He is also a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator and a Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator, and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science.
Shane's research interests explore the brain systems supporting learning, memory, and cognition, and also the brain systems affected by stress and depression. He has published approximately 140 academic papers and has edited three academic books.
His latest book is 'In Praise of Walking: The new science of how we walk and why it’s good for us', an Irish Times Top Ten best-seller. He is an ardent proponent of the need to integrate walking into every aspect of our everyday lives.
Who should come to the National Walking Summit?
Public Health officials
Academics
Living Streets supporters, Local Groups and members
Local Authority transport and health officials
Anyone with an interest in transport planning and/or public health
Highlights from 2019 in Birmingham
Christophe Najdovski
Deputy Mayor of Paris for Transport, Travel and Public Space
Top tweets
The crowds have arrived fresh from our guided walk #WalkingSummit pic.twitter.com/taSfVCiX35
— Living Streets (@livingstreets) March 29, 2019
Morning all! We’re in Birmingham right now for the @livingstreets Walking Summit 2019.
— Croydon Living Streets (@CroydonLiving) March 29, 2019
Just a stroll down Corporation Street, where the tram runs. Motor traffic flow is very low and can only go one way.
Calm and pleasant street for walking. pic.twitter.com/INrbogCCRO
One of our keynote speakers @C_Najdovski telling our special guests from @BensonCommunity School why he wanted to make Paris better for walking and cycling #WalkingSummit pic.twitter.com/828PW2aZxc
— Living Streets (@livingstreets) March 29, 2019
Great to be at the @livingstreets walking summit in Birmingham today. Lots of useful discussions and initiatives on how to promote #activetravel and #physicalactivity across a range of settings #WalkingSummit pic.twitter.com/R8D5RCyxSK
— Food Active (@food_active) March 29, 2019
Our keynote address from Andy Street @MayorWestMids takes us through the reasons we need to encourage and enable people in the West Midlands to walk more. #WalkingSummit @TransportforWM pic.twitter.com/hLKh82YZqZ
— Living Streets (@livingstreets) March 29, 2019
Congratulations to @BrendaPuech for being named Walking Champion of 2019 at the #WalkingSummit yesterday. Well deserved for her Parklet campaign and determination to change the way we think about streets. pic.twitter.com/P3ucPNF2X1
— emmagriffin (@emmagriffin) March 30, 2019
Great to hear @C_Najdovski at the #WalkingSummit highlighting the work being done to make Paris a great city for walking, including transforming the banks of the Seine from highway to people way - loved it when I visited a few years ago pic.twitter.com/uci9CVSHZy
— Bruce McVean (@brucemcvean) March 29, 2019
THANK YOU to @Archierob who steps down as Chair of our Board of Trustees. Living Streets has grown so much on your watch. All the best with what comes next! #WalkingSummit pic.twitter.com/0i8Cug2nCF
— Living Streets (@livingstreets) March 29, 2019
Creating towns and cities that are fitter for walking
View presentations
Coventry - Walking the way to UK City of Culture 2021
Scotland Walking Summit
Glasgow hosted the second Scotland Walking Summit in March 2019.
Our blueprint for change
Our new Blueprint For Change provides campaigners and city leaders with a step-by-step guide to creating walking cities.