Commuters in London are being urged not to take the Tube, and instead use their legs with a new walking map.
The Transport for London initiative shows how many steps it will take passengers between stations in zones one and two – but is it accurate?
With the sun beating down and hot trains sounding deeply unappealing, FEMAIL set out to put it to the test to see whether we could up our daily step count while also saving commuting time.
The Transport for London initiative shows how many steps it will take passengers between stations in zones one and two
Transport officials also hope the map will help tourists that take unnecessary journeys.
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For example, it claims that Leicester Square to Covent Garden takes only takes 400 steps and four minutes, while King’s Cross to Euston takes 1,200 steps and 12 minutes.
In the name of research, armed with an iPhone pedometer and a bottle of water, Lucy Morris set out to test the accuracy of TfL’s calculations at nine central London stations.
A previous map released by Transport for London shows how many minutes it should take to walk between stations
Considering it was midday, midweek and just after a bank holiday the streets were quieter than the weekends and evenings. However, obstacles like slow walkers and roadworks constantly caused diversions and put pressure on TFL’s step predictions.
Do take into account I am 5ft 3in with stubby little legs and for someone of a taller stature with a longer stride the step count could be less.
MARBLE ARCH TO BOND STREET
Between Marble Arch and Bond Street Transport For London accurately calculated the route would take 700 steps
Lucy, left, said that while buses clogged the street the pavements on the route were empty and easy to wander down
TfL: 700
FEMAIL count: 708
Off to a good start, the short walk down Oxford Street was extremely close to the TfL prediction.
However, this was measured on a day when there was little footfall on the popular shopping street and it was easy to navigate the wide boulevard’s pavements.
BOND STREET TO OXFORD CIRCUS
While TfL calculated it would take 700 steps between Bond Street and Oxford Circus it was actually 851
Bustling Bond Street station is located underground, which adds on an extra steps from street level to entrace
TfL: 700
FEMAIL count: 851
As the pavement space decreased and the density of shops increased it became slower to manoeuvre around the street.
Even though I kept a steady pace and was swift at darting out the way of gawping window shoppers the walking map was off mark by 151 steps. At what time of day was the official map measured?
OXFORD CIRCUS TO TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
Between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road TfL was were wrong as the step count was nearly double its prediction
Construction on Oxford Street, right, creates small pavements that slow down the speed of walkers, Lucy, left, found
TfL: 700
FEMAIL count: 1272
As any storied Londoner will know, the straight track between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road is always more chock-a-block than the rest of Oxford Street.
Nevertheless, TfL calculates a very low estimate for this stretch of road. Due to numerous obstacles, like bus stop lines, roadworks cutting pavements in half and slow traffic lights the reality was nearly double.
WARREN STREET TO GOODGE STREET
While TfL calculated it would take 700 steps between Warren Street and Goodge Street it only took 659
Numerous obstacles, right, didn’t hinder the route between Warren Street and Goodge Street, Lucy found
TfL: 700
FEMAIL count: 659
The number of pedestrians stomping the street from the crossing point of Euston Road and Tottenham Court Road right down to down to Goodge Street is remarkably low.
As it was a hot day – temperatures soared to 26 degrees at one point – I took it slow however the step count didn’t reflected it as TfL’s estimate was fairly generous.
GOODGE STREET TO TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
Very near to TfL’s calculations, the distance between Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road is only 744 steps
Goodge Street becomes choked with people at lunchtime as local workers pour into the streets to find lunch spots
TfL: 700
FEMAIL count: 744
While on a map it looks very close, TfL correctly predicts that constant road and pavement works create diversions on this stretch.
Contending with an overcrowded street and slow traffic lights might have stunted the pace but it did little to push up to the step count.
TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD TO LEICESTER SQUARE
Between Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square walkers should prepare to take 833 steps
As evenings approach the stretch between Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square becomes more congested and walkers would be advised the step count could increase. Although it was a quiet time of day when Lucy walked
TfL: 800
FEMAIL count: 833
Though FEMAIL’s research showed that this popular pass took nearly exactly the same as TfL’s prediction to navigate, it should be noted this was at a quiet time.
As evenings close in and Soho’s crowds spill out this roadway becomes a mess with walkers, which would easily have an affect on the step count.
LEICESTER SQUARE TO COVENT GARDEN
Though TfL predicted it would take 400 steps between Leicester Square and Covent Garden it was 430
TfL: 400
FEMAIL count: 430
Using a shortcut that took me parallel to bustling Long Acre street via quieter Floral Street I was able to zip from Leicester Square to Covent Garden in only a matter of minutes.
LEICESTER SQUARE TO CHARING CROSS
While TfL predicted it would take 700 steps between Leicester Square and Charing Cross it was actually less, only 621
Lucy found that although only a short distance, the tourists and a shuttered station entrance slowed down this journey
TfL: 700
FEMAIL count: 621
For a tourist this would be an advisable point to get off the Tube as the short jaunt takes you past several London landmarks – the National Portrait Gallery and Trafalgar Square.
Had it not been for a shuttered station entrance the trip would have been far faster. But, luck and steps were not on my side and I was forced with all the other travellers across the road to a squeezed entrance way.
CHARING CROSS TO EMBARKMENT
As anyone who has exited Embankment Station will know, Charing Cross can been seen from the adjacent station
With no traffic to hinder Lucy, it was only the spill out from local pubs and restaurants that slowed down this short walk
TfL: 300
FEMAIL count: 334
Charing Cross and Embankment station are laughably near, one can in fact see one stop from another at street level.
Though there was no traffic to contend with this cobbled road becomes choked with milling crowds and pub sprawl, which slowed the step count to a crawl count.