Update 4: Who might use Good Ways.. and why?

We want to make it easier for everyone to find the best routes for them.

To help with that we’ve been doing lots of thinking about all the different people and groups that might use paths, routes and Good Ways for different purposes.

Out of that work we’ve drafted the Good Ways Wheel.

Each ring in the wheel suggests a different potential route creator, purpose, user and benefit.

Reading from the outside ring inwards, you’ll discover suggestions like:

• a hospital recommending reflection routes for people visiting patients to reduce stress
• a National Park developing active travel routes for people not driving to reduce emissions
• an adventure group promotes Remote routes for experienced athletes increasing safety

The idea is that the rings could be spun to find inspiration for new combinations.

Why not give it a whirl in your mind!

We’ve not done it yet – but I’d love to see it as a physical spinner.

With 31 possibilities in each ring, by spinning the rings we can discover a total 923,521 possible combinations.

Add to that options for walking, running, cycling, wheeling, horse-riding, skating, swimming, paddling, pushchairs and wheelchairs (and we can all think of more) – and we get to 9,235,210 combinations of potential uses.

And let’s not get into the different unique perspectives of all the individual people across the UK and Ireland (yet).

Creators	Purposes	Users	Benefits
Social prescribing team promotes	Wellbeing routes	For depressed or distressed individuals	Improving mental wellbeing
The hospital recommends	Reflection routes	For people visiting patients	Reducing stress
Therapists use	Mindful routes	For anxious people	Enhancing mental clarity
A mental health charity offers	Wild swimming routes	For people living with trauma	Reconnecting them with their bodies
An inclusive mobility charity assesses	Obstacle-free routes	For people with disabilities	Increasing independence
A parents’ group shares	Push-chair friendly and green routes	For new parents	Reducing postnatal depression
Early years provider plans	Sensory play routes	Neurodiverse children	Enhancing brain development
School Parent-Teachers Associations create	Family-friendly nature routes	For people who struggle with maps	Growing confidence to explore places
A university designs	Field studies routes	For local adult learners	Making learning more relevant
A vulnerable people’s group shares	Safe-feeling routes	For marginalised individuals	Reducing social isolation
A neighbours association highlights	Local shops and public services routes	For new arrivals	Saving them money
A community food support group maps	Foraging routes	For low-income families	Improving diets
The library writes	Story-themed routes	For inter-generational readers	Motivating shared learning
The museum curates	Make-your-own exhibition routes	For people who collect things	Creating pleasure
Heritage charity interprets	Historic sites	For podcast listeners	Building support for protecting sites
Over 80s club schedules	Flat routes for walking every Monday at 10am	For elderly people	Maintaining mobility
The youth club promotes	Active travel routes	For people with no public transport	Enabling freedom
The local leisure centre recommends	Outdoor training routes	For people of all abilities	Improving performance
The arts group creates	Routes with artistic and playful prompts	For aspiring artists	Stimulating creativity
An adventure group promotes	Remote routes	For experienced athletes	Increasing safety
A nature group monitors	Woodland routes	For citizen scientists	Boosting biodiversity
A faith group introduces	Spiritual routes	For pilgrims	Deepening spiritual connection
A dogs group champions	Livestock-free rural routes	For large-dog owners	Fewer injuries
A parks group evaluates	Green and blue space routes	For town planners	To make more green connections
A forest management team surveys	Adventure routes	For youth awardees	Helping them achieve more
A tourism association sign-posts	Delightful routes	For influencers	Promoting more destinations
A trail management organisation manages	Strategic routes	For charity fundraisers	Strengthening local community
Business Improvement District promotes	Activation routes	For commuters	Increasing local spending
Local Farming Association manages	Sensitive routes	For visitors	Protecting plants
A National Park develops	Active travel routes	For people not driving	Reducing emissions
A local council maps	Travel time routes	For first-timers	Changing culture
The Government	Official paths and routes	For citizens	Creating confidence and trust

The point here isn’t that we should have millions of route suggestions for a single path – but it does demonstrate the opportunity to share routes that better match peoples’ different interests and needs.

Not doing so ultimately means people missing out.

So what if people, community groups, charities and other nonprofits from every neighbourhood, village, town and city started sharing their local Good Ways all in one easy to use place? What difference could that make?

This is just version 0.1 of the Good Ways Wheel. How might you use or improve it? What other creators, purposes, users or benefits should we add?

We’d love to read your thoughts.