The European Charter of Pedestrians' Rights

adopted by the European Parliament in 1988

I. The pedestrian has the right to live in a healthy environment and freely to enjoy the amenities offered by public areas under conditions that adequately safeguard his physical and psychological well-being,

II. The pedestrian has the right to live in urban or village centres tailored to the needs of human beings and not to the needs of the motor car and to have amenities within walking or cycling distance.

III. Children, the elderly and the disabled have the right to expect towns to be places of easy social contact and not places that aggravate their inherent weakness.

IV. The disabled have the right to specific measures to maximise their independent mobility, including adjustments in public areas, transport systems and public transport (guidelines, warning signs. acoustic signals, accessible buses, trams and trains).

V. The pedestrian has the right to urban areas which are intended exclusively for his use, are as extensive as possible and are not mere .pedestrian precincts' but in harmony with the overall organisation of the town, and also the exclusive right to connecting short, logical and safe routes.

VI. The pedestrian has a particular right to expect :

(a) compliance with chemical and noise emission standards for motor vehicles which scientists consider to be tolerable;

(b) the introduction into all public transport systems of vehicles that are not a source of either air or noise pollution;

(d) the fixing of speed limits and modifications to the layout of roads and junctions as a way of effectively safeguarding pedestrian and bicycle traffic :

(e) the banning of advertising which encourages an improper and dangerous use of the motor car.

(f) an effective system of road signs whose design also takes into account the needs of the blind and deaf:

(g) the adoption of specific measures to ensure that vehicular pedestrian traffic has ease of access to, and freedom of movement and the possibility of stopping on, roads and pavements respectively.

(h) adjustments to the shape and equipment of motor vehicles so as to give a smoother line to those parts which project most and to make signalling systems more efficient;

(i) the introduction of the system of risk liability so that the person creating the risk bears the financial consequences thereof (as has been the case in France, for example, since 1985);

(j) a drivers' training programme designed to encourage suitable conduct on the roads in respect of pedestrians and other slow road users.

VII. The pedestrian has the right to complete and unimpeded mobility, which can be achieved through the integrated use of the means of transport. In particular, he has the right to expect:

(a) an ecologically sound, extensive and well-equipped public transport service which will meet the needs of all citizens, from the physically fit to the disabled;

(b) the provision of facilities for bicycles throughout the urban areas;

(c) parking lots which are sited in such a way that they affect neither the mobility of pedestrians nor their ability to enjoy areas of architectural distinction.

VIII. Each Member State must ensure that comprehensive information on the rights of pedestrians and on alternative ecologically sound forms of transport is disseminated through the most appropriate channels and is made available to children from the beginning of their school career.