IFP position papers
Our first position paper on Urban Speed was launched during the 6th UN Road Safety Week in 2021:
The International Charter for Walking
The International Charter for Walking has been created by experts from different countries, and signed by cities, institutions and individuals. You can read more about it and sign it on the website www.walk21.com:
Measuring walking
Towards internationally standardised monitoring methods of walking and public space (website)
International Walking Data Standard – Treatment of Walking in Travel Surveys (pdf)
The human right of walking / who owns the road?
The right to be mobile without a motor IFP wants to establish the right to walk in the public space as an explicitly stated basic human right. Read an American essay on this issue by Steven G. Goodridge: The Right to Travel by Human Power
Who owns the road? An article (pdf) by PL Jacobsen et all concluding that “Interventions to reduce traffic speed and volume are likely to promote walking and bicycling and thus result in public health gains.”
Road safety
General
Pedestrian safety is of growing concern to many governments. The high rate of persons killed and injured in road collisions is not acceptable. Experience shows that the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured is more difficult to reduce than the number of motorised road users, because they are the most vulnerable road users. In many countries where casualties of car drivers and riders have been significantly reduced in recent years, the number of pedestrians killed or injured has not been reduced at the same rate.
Pedestrian safety manual
IFP actively participated in the writing of the Pedestrian Safety Manual, coordinated by the World Health Organization. The result is a comprehensive though appropriately compact, well balanced manual on what can and should be done to make our public space safer and better. It is an important contribution to the Decade of Action on Road safety. What can be taken from the manual goes beyond pedestrian safety only, as many of the proposed measures are also beneficial for other road users, vulnerable and less vulnerable. And more liveable cities will be a welcome side-effect!
Download the manual (PDF):
Pedestrian safety, urban space and health
Pedestrian road safety cannot simply be measured by the number of the persons killed or injured. Whether the public space is hostile or inviting for walking has a huge impact on whether people choose to walk. Therefore, walking has to be planned, and a pedestrian-friendly and safe infrastructure has to be implemented. In 2012 a comprehensive report has been published by the International Transport Forum ITF
The research report may be bought here: OECD manual
NGO Brussels declaration
Recommendations to Governments from NGOs advocating for road victims and road safety for the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety. In May 2009, more than 100 representatives of 70 NGOs from 40 countries came together for the first time in Brussels at a meeting hosted by the World Health Organization. Using their unique expertise and perspective, participants compiled 33 recommendations to improve road safety. IFP has been active in the elaboration of the text together with other organisations.
Brussels NGO Declaration (PDF)
Convention on the rights of the child
Convention on the rights of the child UNICEF has adopted a convention which is binding for all countries that have ratified it. It can be valuable to quote the following articles when you negotiate with your authorities for example on safe walking to school:
- article 6/2: States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.
- article 19/1: States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
Convention on the rights of the child (UNICEF website)
Urbanism
Gender
The Young Women Lead (YWL) cohort 2021 have undertaken a 9-month long study into Glasgow’s urban infrastructure and whether it reflects and supports the diverse needs of women and non-binary people living in the city.
Glasgow: A Feminist City? Young Women Lead Report 2021
Urbanism – Health – Environment – Public transport – Traffic planning – Economical aspects – Social aspects
We are currently selecting and editing some relevant documents. Please feel free to suggest recent documents you would like to see included under these various topics. Thanks