LIVERPOOL University students are to be urged to walk to lectures in a bid to improve their health and the environment.

The Guild of Students is currently pressing for a specially signposted route from Smithdown Road to the university campus.

The plan is for the signs to give information at regular intervals on the time it would take to walk the route, instead of the distance.

Sam Johnson, vice president of the Guild of Students, said she hoped the move would fit in with he city’s current Year of the Environment and the Year of Health and Wellbeing in 2010.

His idea has been supported by Labour councillor Nick Small, who put forward a motion to a meeting of the full council on Wednesday this week.

Cllr Small said a positive side-effect could also be a reduction in the number of students parking in roads in and around the university campus.

Mr Johnson said: “We are hoping to get a dedicated walking route into the university from Smithdown Road, and hopefully we can use that as a stepping stone to get more routes in future.

“Many students don’t really know how long it would take to walk two miles.

“It depends whether you have had your Weetabix, but you can walk from the Tesco in Smithdown Road to the university in about 32 to 33 minutes.

“There is not really much difference between walking and catching the bus when you factor in waiting for the bus.

“By walking, students can burn calories and do their bit for the environment.”