WALKMORE investigates how small Norwegian cities (pop. 10–15,000) can encourage everyday walking through urban planning and development. The project aims to generate knowledge on planning processes, tools to map and evaluate walkability, and residents’ walking behaviors and perceptions of urban environments. Although short distances in small cities are ideal for walking, private cars dominate daily travel. The project studies how urban design and planning can make walking a more attractive option, addressing knowledge gaps on planning for walking, the role of the built environment, and effective measures to promote it.

WALKMORE is a collaboration between Narvik, Steinkjer, Kongsvinger, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, NMBU, and the Institute of Transport Economics (TØI). Research includes planning practices, user perspectives, low-budget pilot interventions, and coordination between local actors, with attention to what is feasible for small cities with limited resources. Promoting walking contributes to sustainable transport by reducing car dependency, traffic, and pollution, while improving public health and creating more inclusive and attractive urban areas.