Method
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Walking Tour

ParticipateOnboardingUnderstanding & Gathering PerspectivesAnalogue1 - 3 HoursDirectly AffectedInterested PublicHard-to-Reach GroupsSmall Group up to 15Medium Group up to 30CreativeActivating

A Walking Tour is a participatory method in which residents, planning professionals, public authorities, and policymakers explore a specific area together on site. During the walk, participants visit selected locations, identify challenges, and discuss possible improvements directly where they occur. The method is particularly well suited to topics with a strong spatial dimension, as places can be experienced and assessed collectively. Walking through an area together often reveals practical insights and everyday perspectives that may not emerge in traditional meeting formats.

Goal

The goal of a Walking Tour is to explore places together on site and make different perspectives on challenges, opportunities, and patterns of use visible. Through direct observation and discussion, participants generate practical insights, experiences, and ideas that can inform future planning and participation processes. At the same time, the method strengthens dialogue between residents, planning professionals, and public authorities.

When useful?

  • addressing spatial planning issues
  • places should be experienced and assessed together
  • discussing topics such as mobility, accessibility, or the quality of public spaces
  • gathering everyday experiences from local residents
  • introducing planning or participation processes
  • discussing challenges directly on site

When not useful?

  • an accessible route cannot be provided
  • weather conditions or outdoor circumstances are unsuitable
  • confidential or highly sensitive discussions are the primary objective

Process

Begin by considering:

  • Which locations should be visited?
  • What will the route be?
  • Where are suitable meeting points?
  • Which questions should guide the discussions?
  • What should participants learn or identify during the walk?

Examples include:

  • "How safe are local school routes?"
  • "Where are places to sit or spend time missing?"
  • "Which barriers exist in the neighbourhood?"

Design a route that includes:

  • relevant locations
  • easily accessible paths
  • sufficient space for group discussions

Important:

The route should be as accessible as possible and not overly long.

It is helpful to:

  • include several short stops
  • select locations that represent different perspectives and conditions

Depending on the topic, invite experts such as:

  • urban planners
  • landscape architects
  • transport planners
  • social workers

They can:

  • explain relevant background information
  • answer participants' questions
  • provide additional context

Important:

Professional expertise should support the discussion without dominating it.

Consider:

  • Who uses the area?
  • Who is most directly affected?
  • Which perspectives are often underrepresented?

Walking Tours can be organised specifically for groups such as:

  • young people
  • older adults
  • families
  • people with limited mobility

Adapt the route, language, and schedule to meet the needs of the participants.

Advertise the Walking Tour through:

  • public notices
  • social media
  • local organisations
  • community groups

Important:

Clearly communicate:

  • the meeting point
  • the duration
  • the route
  • the purpose of the Walking Tour

At the beginning of the event, the facilitation team explains:

  • the purpose of the Walking Tour
  • the programme
  • the route
  • the schedule
  • the discussion guidelines

For smaller groups, a brief round of introductions can also be helpful.

The group follows the planned route, stopping at selected locations.

At each stop, participants discuss:

  • existing challenges
  • personal experiences
  • wishes and ideas
  • opportunities for improvement

Helpful guiding questions include:

  • "How do you experience this place?"
  • "What problems do you notice here?"
  • "What would you like to see changed?"

Participants exchange their perspectives directly at each location.

This helps reveal:

  • different perceptions of the same place
  • everyday experiences
  • spatial relationships and local context

Important:

Ensure that everyone has sufficient opportunity to contribute their experiences.

Throughout the Walking Tour, record:

  • observations
  • ideas
  • concerns
  • conflicts

Supporting documentation may include:

  • written notes
  • photographs
  • marked maps
  • sketches

Photographs of problem areas or successful examples are particularly valuable for later analysis.

At the end of the tour, participants come together for a final reflection.

Together they review:

  • the key findings
  • frequently mentioned topics
  • remaining questions
  • possible next steps

The closing discussion can take place outdoors or in a nearby indoor venue.

Prepare a clear summary of:

  • discussions
  • observations
  • ideas
  • photographs
  • annotated maps

Important:

The spatial context of the findings should remain clearly visible in the documentation.

The findings may be:

  • shared with participants
  • published online
  • incorporated into future planning processes

This promotes transparency and keeps participants informed.

The collected observations can be used to:

  • develop concrete measures
  • inform future participation activities
  • prioritise identified challenges
  • support planning processes

Source: https://mobilitaetsplanung-hessen.de/methodenkoffer-partizipative-planung/

Notes

Tips

  • Allow sufficient time for discussion at each stop.
  • Fewer stops with more in-depth conversations are often more effective than covering a long route.
  • Choose a route that is safe and accessible for all participants.
  • Photographs are extremely helpful for documenting discussions and locations afterwards.
  • Participants' everyday experiences are often the most valuable source of local knowledge.

Not suitable for

  • purely theoretical topics
  • very large groups
  • issues without a spatial dimension
  • events that require a high level of confidentiality or private discussion

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Afterwards

Afterwards, methods that organise, deepen, or translate the gathered content into concrete steps are useful. Depending on the goal, the following formats can follow, for example:

Planning Workshop

A Planning Workshop is a participatory method in which residents work together with planning professionals, public authorities, and policymakers on concrete planning projects. During collaborative workshop sessions, participants discuss ideas, identify challenges, and develop proposals that are visualised directly on maps, plans, or physical models. The method is particularly suitable for urban development and design projects where local knowledge and community perspectives should actively inform the planning process.

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Workshop

A workshop is a facilitated working session in which participants collaborate to explore a specific question, develop ideas, or create solutions. Depending on its purpose, a workshop can be used to share information, analyse problems, or develop concrete actions. Because all participants are actively involved, it is particularly well suited to the collaborative development of results.

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Online Participation

Online Participation is a digital engagement method that enables people to take part in planning and decision-making processes through a website or online platform. Participants can access information, contribute ideas, comment on proposals, evaluate suggestions, or collaborate using interactive maps and discussion tools. Participation can take place live during an event or asynchronously over a longer period, allowing people to contribute regardless of time or location. This makes it possible to reach a wide range of participants while offering greater flexibility than traditional in-person formats.

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