Make the easy journey a better journey.

A useful alternative to driving has to work from door to door. Better streets connect comfortable walking routes, accessible transit, safe cycling and nearby destinations into a network people can rely on.

Build a connected network

Six pieces of a more useful transport system.

Each part matters. Their value depends on how well they connect to one another and to the destinations people need.

Continuous walking routes

Provide clear, step-free routes with usable crossings, space to pass and places to rest. Follow the route through junctions, stops and entrances; continuity is part of the design.

Cycling that reaches places

Connect homes to everyday destinations with routes that feel usable beyond the confident few. Consider junctions, secure parking, adapted cycles and the points where routes change character.

Transit people can plan around

Think about frequency, operating hours, reliability and interchange together. A comfortable stop needs a useful service, and a useful service needs an accessible route to the stop.

Destinations closer to home

Bring the discussion about transport together with the discussion about land use. Local shops, services and shared spaces can make shorter journeys possible.

Streets designed for their setting

Match street design to the activity around it. Where people cross, shop or wait, examine visibility, crossing distance and the way the layout encourages drivers to move.

Space for necessary access

Plan for deliveries, maintenance, emergency access and people who need a vehicle. Clear loading arrangements and accessible arrival points belong in the design from the start.

Try, observe, adjust

A temporary street change can help a community examine an idea in use. Seating, crossing layouts or changes to kerb space can sometimes be tested before a permanent scheme is designed. A trial still needs a clear purpose, appropriate permissions, accessible layouts and a way to hear from people affected.

Define the question before choosing the measure. If the aim is a more usable crossing, observe waiting time, crossing distance and the experience of people with different mobility needs. If the aim is a better bus journey, consider the whole trip rather than one short section of road.

Plan for the parts that are easy to overlook

A successful network also has to work in poor weather, after dark and during maintenance. Think about drainage, lighting, surface condition, shelter and information. Ask who will keep the route clear and how changes will be communicated.

Consider affordability and availability alongside street design. A comfortable transit stop is only one part of an accessible journey if the service is infrequent or the fare is out of reach. Physical improvements and service planning need to meet.

Choose a starting point

One journey. A connected set of changes.

For a trip to a local centre, the answer might combine a direct crossing, a more useful bus timetable and a better place to lock a cycle. Start with the obstacle people describe, follow it along the route and identify the organisations responsible for each part.

Keep a record of trade-offs. A proposal may change loading, parking or traffic patterns. Describing those effects clearly gives the discussion something practical to resolve.

Keep exploring

Bring the ideas into focus.

Use the resource toolkit to record a journey, compare options and define what success would look like.

Use the toolkit