Mallon launches New Walking Campaign

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon today launched a new public information campaign encouraging people to walk for shorter journeys.

New Walking Campaign

Entitled “Great Things Happen”, the campaign encourages more people to walk as a travel option and leave the car behind.

Minister Mallon said:

“The Covid pandemic has been an incredibly difficult time for people. However one of the positives to come from this crisis is more people choosing to walk as part of their journey or daily exercise.  Like so many of us, I want us to build on this positive change and not just slip back to the way things were.

“Walking is good for our general well-being. It is good for our physical and mental health and for the environment. We all need to encourage each other to continue making the shift towards walking as a way of travelling especially for those shorter journeys.”

This campaign illustrates scenes that represent significant moments in our lives, both personally and globally, when people take an important journey on foot. The strapline underpins the essence of the message: “Great Things Happen When You Walk”.

Minister Mallon continued:

“I recently created a Walking and Cycling Champion in my Department, with responsibility for overseeing work to deliver safe routes that give people the freedom and confidence to walk and cycle as part of their everyday routine.  Active travel should be open to, and enjoyed by everyone, during these unprecedented times and when we get through them to a better place. 

“Not only will our own individual health benefit, by cutting down on traffic congestion and reducing air pollution, we will also improve the quality of life for everyone in Northern Ireland. Greener, cleaner, healthier and happier people and places must be our aim as we learn to live with this new normal during and after Covid-19.”

The Minister concluded:

“Remember, if out walking, use footpaths where available and always walk on the right hand side facing the oncoming traffic.”

The ‘Great Things Happen’ television advert will run from 20 July to the end of August 2020.

The campaign carries the hashtag #GreatThingsHappenWhenWeWalk and the tv advert can be viewed at the Share the Road to Zero website.

Notes to editors: 

1. The new pedestrian television campaign will be supported by radio, outdoor and online activity.
2. So far this year, 32 people have been killed on our roads, including four pedestrians. (PSNI statistics as of 11.59pm Thursday 16 July).
3. The new pedestrian television campaign will first air on UTV at 6.12pm on 20 July during UTV Live.  The campaign will run from 20 July to the end of August 2020.
4. For further information on the benefits of walking go to https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/walking
5. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. 
6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
7. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

Share this page