A subsidy scheme is being set up for adjustments that make the infrastructure safer, more attractive or more accessible. This could involve a bridge over a ditch, the construction of a footpath or the removal of an obstacle.
‘Village sums’
Municipalities receive support to better connect facilities such as public transport, shopping centers and educational institutions for pedestrians. Money will also be made available for the construction and maintenance of ‘village paths’.
There will also be special programs to encourage walking and to encourage companies to encourage employees to exercise more. In terms of road safety, an assessment is made of the extent to which it is safe to cross provincial roads on foot.
National Walking Master Plan
According to deputy Johan Hamster (mobility, Christian Union), Groningen is the first province to actively work on pedestrian policy. In addition, work is being done nationally on the National Walking Master Plan.
According to Hamster, a lot of money and attention is rightly spent on cyclists, motorists and public transport travelers in Groningen, but ‘walking is the healthiest, sustainable, cheap and accessible form of travel’.
