shortwalk.blog.co.uk

Thank You for Your Patience

2008-03-21T19:27:23+01:00

Hello Everyone!

After a very busy year finishing up the Masters course, Shortwalk is on it's way to new beginnings. Soon there will be a new logo, a new website and an updated map for everyone to download from the website.

Shortwalk looks forward to hearing your continued comments and positive feedback! Thanks for all of your support! See you soon!

Sincerely,

Shortwalk Team

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Under Construction

2007-03-08T19:05:48+01:00

Things are getting really exciting for the ShortWalk team. We have been very busy assessing the project, and wanted to take a moment out from the frenzy of activity to thank you for your support and positive feedback.

Your suggestions have been quite helpful. We have taken them on-board, and are currently in the process of refining our map and developing a new website. We are in the midst of a growth and develpoment period, and as such have not been as focused on updating the blog.

Having said that,

Please Stay Tuned!

We hope to have a new and improved map and a shiny new web site available soon.

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On Air...

2007-03-02T11:16:25+01:00

Listen to us discuss Shortwalk live, Friday, March 2, at 1:30 pm on Radio 1, 97.3 fm The topic of the Jim Davis Show on LBC will be entitled "Lifestyle, Heath and Wellbeing" and we will be on it!

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Extra, Extra! Read all about it!

2007-02-27T22:24:28+01:00

We have had the amazing fortune of being written about in both the Evening Standard and London Lite! Check out the article in the 26th Feb. 2007 edition of the Evening Standard.

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Download the walking map!

2007-02-27T22:21:21+01:00

Missed us at Holborn Station?

Click here to get your own copy of our map. Stay tuned for a new and improved version coming your way soon.

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Project Update:

2007-02-13T18:20:25+01:00

We would like to extend a big thanks to all of the people who have supported us by reading our blog and leaving comments on the site!
Our presentation went extremely well yesterday and that was in large part due to the overwhelmingly positive reaction we have received from people like you.
Thanks!
(and yes we wore our t-shirts for the presentation!)

Another thank you must go out to Londonist.com for the interview they posted yesterday about our project. If you would like to read the interview, the text is posted below. To read the article and see the comments left by Londonist readers please go to http://www.londonist.com/archives/2007/02/londonist_inter_4.php

FEBRUARY 12, 2007
Londonist Interviews: Some People Who Like Walking

Anyone walking past Holborn Tube is sure to have all kinds of leaflet thrust upon them. But if you were passing by last Friday, you might have ended up with something worthwhile. A group of postgrads from St Martin's have put together a handy map of zone 1 showing just how short the distances are between stations. The idea is to encourage more people to walk, rather than take public transport, and thus do their bit for cutting emissions. We caught up with them over the weekend...

So, tell us a bit about yourselves?There are six of us in our group. We are postgraduate students at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design that are currently working on a MA in Design Studies. Our brief for this week was to find an issue we care about and create a buzz to affect positive change.

Who's on the team??Each one of us comes from a unique background, which made for a really interesting experience while collaborating on this project. Soyoung is from Seoul and has worked in creative consulting, Keni (Hong Kong) is a product designer, Sara (Madrid) has a law degree and has worked in marketing, Mariel (New York) worked in book publishing, and Ratiphat (aka Egg), is an interiror designer from Thailand. I'm originally from New Jersey, but have been living here for the last two years (I really love London and hope to stay permanently). We are all creative, but have strengths in different areas. It is great to be on a team like that, because you quickly build a sense of trust and the knowledge that there is someone who is strong in areas that you may not have had as much experience.

Did you do a lot of walking around London before this project, or was it the project that openend your eyes to walking??I think the answer to that question is yes to both. We are students, so walking is our primary source of transportation most of the time. London is an amazing city to walk around, as it is so diverse architecturally and has such a rich history. I think, because we all hail from different cities and countries, London is still new to us and holds a lot of quirky and yet-to-be-found wonder. The best way to get in touch with that aspect of any city, is to walk around and explore. The one thing we learned while working on this project that surprised all of us, and really opened our eyes about walking, is how close most tube stops are to one another in central London. Most Zone 1 tube stops are within 10 minutes walking distance of one another (for example Chancery Lane and Holborn or Bank and Liverpool St.). I don't think that most people are aware that is is often quicker to walk (not to mention cheaper, healthier, and generally a more pleasant experience).

So you picked Holborn tube station to distribute the maps? Are you nuts? That junction is pedestrian hell. Trying to persuade people they should walk more while in that environment would be like trying to talk someone into bungee jumping by showing them footage of snapping ropes. Madness. Sorry, that's not a question, more an observation.?Giggle. There were some guys that were out distributing one of the (many) free newspapers at the same time that we were at the station raising awareness. They had a pretty good laugh at us for the reason you mentioned, as well as the fact it was a bit chilly that day. We had a great time anyway, and got such a positive response from people that it was well worth it. Holborn Station is just down the street from Central Saint Martins, so we were able to get inside and warm up quickly afterwards.

Are you finding that the people most receptive to your map are tourists, or London workers??We had people in both categories express interest. London workers seemed quite interested. Some people even took a number of our maps to hand out in the office! One woman thought it was such a good idea that we should take the map to tourist offices and make a business out of it. I had the chance to speak with two tourists who were grumbling over the cost of the tube. I gave them our map and explained what it was, and they were overjoyed. Most people have A-Z or other geographical maps, which are extremely helpful resources, but the service that our map provides that others do not is information on just how long it will take you to get from one place to another. What looks like it will take ages in the A-Z, is most likely closer than you think, and that is where our map comes in.

Where do you go from here? Are you going to focus on circulating the map, or do you have other tricks up your collective sleeve? ?This project has great potential, and while the assignment is over on Monday (cross your fingers for our presentation) there has been talk of extending the life of the map and the movement. We would love to hear feedback on our blog site.
What's your favourite place to walk in London??I used to live near Aldgate East, and my favourite walk at that time was over Tower Bridge and along the Thames Path to Borough Market. There are a number of lovely pubs to stop at on the way home, and nothing beats the colour, smells and tastes of spending a couple hours at that market. Now I live in Barnsbury (Islington), and my favourite walk by far is up to the new Emirates Stadium to watch the Arsenal play (whilst holding my boyfriend's hand of course). Mariel writes, "I really like the walk that comes down from Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden to the Thames. There's something about the hussle and bussel that turns quiet and peaceful?and then beautiful with the bridge and river." Keni chipped in that his favourite place to walk in?London is the bit of the Thames Path that goes past the Tate, his reasons being, "You can see all those lovely historical buildings situated on the riverbank while enjoying the many activities such as the Tate Modern Exhibitions, The National Theatre events, etc."

Which bits of London could be more pedestrian friendly??We all agree that the one place we really dislike walking is Oxford Street. I can vouch that it is overcrowded and it makes me grumpy. Keni thinks that there should be times when the area is pedestrian only. His idea is that Sundays could be designated walk only during certain hours, thereby opening up space for people to walk and not be so crowded (Mariel hates that people in that area either walk too slow or bump into you). It would also cut down on carbon emissions in that area for that allotted amount of time, so while people were walking they would not have to be bombarded by exhaust fumes.

If you were Mayor, what would you change about London??I would quickly grant myself permanent residency. London is a wonderfully diverse, cosmopolitan, and vibrant city. Like all other cities it has its problems i.e. bureaucracy, congestion, poverty. The issue I think that Londoners could work on a bit, is being a bit more aware of those around them. Kindness, politeness, respect--these are attributes that do not cost anything other than perhaps a couple extra seconds of spare thought. I'm not sure how I could affect this change from the Mayor's office though, I think it has to work from the ground up. We discussed topics like this in my group and in my course. It is a common thought shared within the creative community, and we are all dedicated to coming up with solutions. Sometimes many small solutions create change in a big way-- I think this is one of the principles we operate under in our MA Design Studies course at Central Saint Martins.

Have you ever been sick on the Tube??Yuck! No, nor has anyone in my group. We are responsible creative-types.

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WELCOME!

2007-02-12T14:29:52+01:00

We are a group of postgraduate students in the course "MA Design Studies" at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design

Last week, we were given a short term project. Our brief was for the six of us find an issue that we care about, and create a buzz about that topic to affect positive change.

We have chosen to create a project that encourages Londoners to walk. As an alternative to using congested public transportation, walking is greener, healthier, and more cost efficient. We have created a plan, as well as a helpful tool, posted on this site, to emphasize the fact that the distance between many Zone 1 tube stops is less than 10 minutes walk apart.

This blog is to promote this campaign, the goal of which, is to promote Londoners to walk when possible instead of using the Tube. Many tube stations are less than 10 minutes apart on foot!
We have included a useful map that shows these distances.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Go to our course information.

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This Just In!

2007-02-11T17:45:35+01:00

Keep an eye out today for an article about us on the Londonist.com web site!
(Click on the image for a direct link.)
We could not be more excited as it is one of our favourite sites to get all sorts of interesting information about what is going on in London everyday. We particularly like the witty writing style and the fact that they often encourage walking around London. In fact, they are known to do fabulous guided walking tours of various areas of interest in London for free!

Check out our article and www.londonist.com!

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Did you meet us in Holborn?

2007-02-09T15:10:24+01:00

Instead of using conventional advertising techniques, we decided to approach people with the grass-roots method of simple, genuine conversation. We explained that our idea was to bring about positive and healthy change by taking short walks instead of riding the tube one or two stops. Most people were surprised at how much shorter the distance is from tube to tube than they had imagined. We're hoping word of our blog will be passed along, and in the future the congestion when riding the tube can be lessened. We know people will feel healthier and more positive after taking a walk instead.

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Think Outside the Tube! Download Central London Walking Map

2007-02-09T01:27:22+01:00

This is a map we put together to show you how far the distance is between Zone 1 Tube Stops.

It is amazing how many stops take less than ten minutes to walk between!

So many journeys are actually far quicker on foot.

When you walk there is no chance of:

being charged
being delayed
having to wait once on the platform
being squashed on the platform or once in the train

Also, when you walk, you dont have to stick to someone else's plan. Walking means you can pop in to a shop to pick up the newspaper, have a coffee, post a letter, get some loo roll, or buy that Valentine's gift for your significant other you have been meaning to take care of!

Walking also means you can plan your own route to suit your needs on a given day-- if you are late you can take a short cut If you have some time, stop off at the Tate on your way home, or for a drink at the pub with mates.

Walking is about flexibility, and thinking outside of the box!

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Walking in a Winter Wonderland

2007-02-08T18:41:12+01:00

(AP Photograph)

Overnight, London was seemingly transported into the centre of a snow-globe. Somehow, bundling up and having a walk through the magic of a snow covered city seems much more desirable than this...

(MykReeve's It's Snow Fun posted on Flickr today http://www.flickr.com/photos/mykreeve/)

Just another instance of why it is smarter to walk!

Heavy snow brings commuter chaos
Thursday February 8, 01:34 PM
Read the Yahoo article on the next page...

Heavy snow brings commuter chaos
Thursday February 8, 01:34 PM

Travellers have had to put up with disruption and delays thanks to a thick blanket of snow covering much of the UK.

Southern England, the Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland have all received heavy snowfalls.

Luton airport is still closed while other airports are struggling to clear a backlog of flights caused by temporary closures as a result of the weather.

Train operators are suffering some disruption. Midland Mainline passengers were told that some services this evening had already been cancelled due to "adverse weather conditions".
Commuter trains out of London to the northern home counties will also be affected by the cancellations.

A Highways Agency spokesman said that generally there had been the usual number of incidents this morning on the roads as drivers made their way to work.

Hundreds of schools have been closed across the areas of the country affected by the snow and many children are taking advantage of the unscheduled day off.

Industry chiefs have warned that transport failures could cost the economy hundreds of millions of pounds.

David Frost, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The impact of this weather forecast on Britain will be huge.

"It is expected that the lateness and loss of work hours caused by transport disruptions will cost the British economy up to £400 million.

"UK workers already have to deal with constantly delayed and overcrowded trains which they pay exorbitant travel fares for. This situation highlights the need for a real change in the current UK travel infrastructure."

The snowfall comes just two weeks after thousands of travellers faced delays on the way to work in the south of England after snow disrupted rail services.

Geoff Pope, chairman of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said there was "no excuse" for major disruption to transport services today as a result of bad weather.

He said: "The Met Office has given ample warning of snow, and one would expect that Transport for London has taken steps to ensure that trains can still run without disruption."
(http://uk.news.yahoo.com/08022007/397/heavy-snow-brings-commuter-chaos-0.html#)

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Walk Smart

2007-02-08T16:39:11+01:00

"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking"
- Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher

"Exercise, such as walking, increases the blood flow to the brain. A 1999 study of people over 60 found that walking 45 minutes a day at 16-minute mile pace increased the thinking skills of those over 60. The participants started at 15 minutes of walking and built up their time and speed. The result was that the same people were mentally sharper after taking up this walking program" (Wendy Bumgardner, Certified Marathon Coach, http://walking.about.com/cs/mindandspirit/a/mindspirit.htm).

(more on this topic to come!)

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Changing the World Step by Step

2007-02-08T14:45:21+01:00

Walking is a great way to get around! Not only is it healthy for you, it is healthier for the environment.
"Motor vehicles create a substantial amount of air pollution. In fact, transportation is responsible for nearly 80 percent of carbon monoxide and 50 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S. Not surprisingly, many metropolitan areas do not meet the air quality standards specified in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Although individual cars are much cleaner today than they were in earlier years, if total traffic continues to grow, overall air quality will deteriorate. Moreover, cars and trucks burn millions of barrels of oil, a non-renewable energy source, every day.

Pollution Facts:

Motor vehicle emissions represent 31% of total carbon dioxide, 81% of carbon monoxide, and 49% of nitrogen oxides released in the U.S. (The Green Commuter, A Publication of the Clean Air Council)

60% of the pollution created by automobile emissions happens in the first few minutes of operation, before pollution control devices can work effectively. Since "cold starts" create high levels of emissions, shorter car trips are more polluting on a per-mile basis than longer trips.

A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe. (WorldWatch Institute)

Air pollution contributes to the deaths of 60,000 people nationwide. In urban areas with poor air quality, asthma is becoming a more significant health concern" (Harvard University School of Public Health).
Thanks to www.walkinginfo.org for the facts and figures!

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Walking for Health

2007-02-08T14:27:05+01:00

"Walking is the nearest to perfect exercise".
Professor J Morris and Dr. Adrianne Hardman, 1997

Health benefits of walking

Studies show that walking can:

Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
Lower blood pressure
Reduce high cholesterol and improve blood lipid profile
Reduce body fat
Enhance mental well being
Increase bone density, hence helping to prevent osteoporosis
Reduce the risk of cancer of the colon
Reduce the risk of non insulin dependant diabetes
Help to control body weight
Help osteoarthritis
Help flexibility and co-ordination hence reducing the risk of falls (Sources: Davison & Grant 1993, US Dept of Health 1996, British Heart Foundation 2000, information found on www.ramblers.org.uk)

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Walking route finder : WALKIT.COM

2007-02-07T13:49:55+01:00

We found very useful and helpful website you might be interested in.
This website is : www.walkit.com

You can find every walking route wherever you want to walk in Central London, moreover it will tell you how much energy you will consume while walking.

Try it! It's so smart and cool!

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