Fingal County Council Project Strengthening the Effectiveness of Policies for European Pedestrians

STEP UP project with EU partners

Fingal County Council joins a consortium of eight European cities and regions to participate in the STEP UP project. STEP UP is short for Strengthening The Effectiveness of Policies for European Pedestrians, and is supported by Interreg Europe.

Step Up

The Goal

Strengthening The Effectiveness of Policies for European Pedestrians (STEP UP) is an innovative European project, supported by eight city and regional partners, aiming to ensure the many walking policies that are emerging at all levels are as effective as possible at delivering the shared vision for a safer, healthier, cleaner and more sustainable Europe.

The baseline

More than 90% of countries in Europe now have a walking policy at the national level acknowledging that walking has to be as easy, safe and comfortable as possible. Three quarters of these have been developed since COVID when it became evident that walking needed more commitment, policy attention and resources. Cities and regions have been publishing walking policies at pace too, but often without support.

The way forward

Together, the STEP UP Project agrees on the processes to follow, the actions to take, and the measures for success, for walking to support sustainable mobility in a greener Europe. A common systemised approach to facilitate a structured and comparable analysis, planning, and implementation of walking policies ensures this quick, affordable and reliable investment opportunity helps Europe reach several of the SDG commitments and climate targets.

A general policy improvement framework elaborates to steer the policy improvement throughout the project. Project Partners are supported to assess their existing policies against the 8 Steps that have proven to help effectiveness. Specific competences are highlighted as well as gaps where new learnings can be made. Good practice examples identified during the eight study visits are translated into the regional context and help to successfully improve the partners existing policy instruments at the regional level. The findings of the interregional learning process improves the effectiveness of walking policies within the project partners' regions and hopefully inspire many other cities and regions too across Europe.

The partnership

What will this project change

The project will strengthen the effectiveness of policy instruments for walking in cities and regions across Europe. Hence the conditions for walking like standards, funding etc. will be improved and the experience for pedestrians will be more enjoyable.

Step Up

What We Learned in Fingal: Insights from Burgenland’s STEP UP Study Visit 

From 10 - 14 June 2024, representatives from Fingal’s Active Travel Unit, along with other partner regions, visited Burgenland in Austria. The focus was on an important question: How can we secure commitment for improving walking policies? Conversations with regional leaders, planners, and experts gave us insights that align closely with our aims in Fingal. 

Building Commitment through a Shared Vision 

One of the main takeaways was the power of having a clear, shared vision. In Burgenland, everyone from local mayors to school principals agreed on the importance of creating easy, safe, and comfortable walking for all, especially for children. 
In Fingal, focusing on child-friendly and accessible walking routes could help build broad support and cooperation across our communities. 

Engaging the Community and Experts 

Hearing from different voices, including regional officials and groups like Walk21, showed that walking is about much more than just getting from one place to another. It is about improving the overall community. 
In Fingal, involving residents, councillors, and local groups will continue to foster a sense of ownership and commitment to our projects. 

Practical Observations from Field Visits 

Visiting towns like Neufeld and Güssing revealed both opportunities and challenges. The compact layouts make walking convenient, but many areas are still too focused on cars, especially near schools. 
In Fingal, we face similar issues in our villages and suburbs. It is clear that we need to prioritise pedestrian safety and rethink congested or car-heavy spaces. 

Next Steps for Fingal: 

  • Reinforce the Vision: Focus on making walking safe and accessible for everyone, with special attention to children and vulnerable users. 
  • Engage Stakeholders: Keep talking with planners, local leaders, schools, and residents to build shared commitment. 
  • Highlight Examples: Use real-world observations and feedback to show how improving walkability can make a difference. 
  • Promote Quick Wins: Showcase successful pilot projects and quick improvements to prove that positive change is possible. 

What We Learned in Fingal: Insights from Braga’s STEP UP Study Visit 

Our visit to Braga in Portugal in October 2024 provided valuable insights into promoting walking and sustainable mobility. The challenges we saw there were familiar, but we also discovered some innovative solutions. 

Shared Concerns about School Streets 

Meeting with residents and parents at a school planning a ‘school street’ project showed that their concerns about traffic disruption, access, and safety are the same as those we face in Ireland. 
In Fingal, we could ask each STEP UP partner to share the top three concerns raised in their projects. Highlighting these common issues and showing how they have been addressed elsewhere can help build trust. 

Weather-Proof Solutions from Finland 

We often hear concerns about walking in poor weather. Finland, with its colder climate, has implemented walking schemes successfully. 
Learning from Finland’s examples could help us show that walking can be promoted in any weather. 

Expanding Engagement to Secondary Schools and Businesses 

Our current efforts focus mostly on primary schools. Braga highlighted the benefits of extending this to secondary schools and businesses. 
In Fingal, we will explore how our walking officers could engage with these groups to encourage walking across all ages. 

This update reflects our commitment to learning from global experiences and applying these insights to make Fingal a safer, more walkable, and vibrant place for everyone. 

#STEPUP #ActiveTravel #Walkability #SustainableMobility