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Defining Active Travel: A Response to Cook et al, 2022

Harriet Larrington-Spencer (University of Westminster)

Volume 3 • Issue 2 • 2023 • Regular Issue

Add to the conversation on active travel, volume 3 • issue 1 • 2023 • special issue: electric micromobility futures.

Active Travel Studies is a peer reviewed, open access journal intended to provide a source of authoritative research on walking, wheeling, cycling and other forms of active travel. In the context of a climate emergency, widespread health problems associated with inactivity, and poor air quality caused in large part by fossil fuel transport, the journal is relevant and timely. It performs the critical function of providing practitioners and policy makers with access to current and robust findings on all subjects relevant to active travel.

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Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 2024 • Regular Issue

Research articles.

Integrating Perceptions, Physical Features and the Quality of the Walking Route into an Existing Accessibility Tool: The Perceived Environment Walking Index (PEWI)

Anna-Lena van der Vlugt, Christian Gerten and Joachim Scheiner

2024-03-08 Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 2024 • Regular Issue

Shifting Gears: A case study of bicycle planning and decision-making in Tucson, Arizona

Joseph Iuliano and Ladd Keith

2024-06-28 Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 2024 • Regular Issue

The impact of Covid-19 road-space reallocation measures: Insights from the north of England

Stephen Parkes, Richard Weston and Tony Gore

2024-07-02 Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 2024 • Regular Issue

Adolescents’ Active Transport to School and Parental Perspectives in a School Choice Policy Environment

Susan Sandretto, Enrique García Bengoechea, Gordon Wilson, Gavin Kidd and Sandra Mandic

2024-07-03 Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 2024 • Regular Issue

Harriet Larrington-Spencer

2024-07-18 Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 2024 • Regular Issue

Most Popular Articles

Perceptions of E-Micromobility Vehicles Amongst Staff and Students at Universities in the North of England

Gemma Bridge

Clutter and Compliance: Scooter Parking Interventions and Perceptions

Nicholas Klein, Anne Brown, Calvin Thigpen

Gender and the E-bike: Exploring the Role of Electric Bikes in Increasing Women’s Access to Cycling and Physical Activity

Kirsty Wild, Alistair Woodward, Caroline Shaw

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Active travel

Active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) is a great way to get from A to B without fossil fuels. Whilst some journeys and situations may require a car, the more journeys you replace with active travel, the more money and carbon you will save. Active travel isn't just good for your wallet and the environment, it also improves health and wellbeing.

Climate change and the high cost of living are pressing issues we face today. In Scotland, transport and travel expenses account for 15% of household spending, with rural households having to bear even higher costs. Additionally, domestic transport is the biggest contributor to net greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland.

19% of journeys in Scotland are under 1km. There are greener and cheaper options for those shorter, everyday journeys that are rich in other benefits too.

Tips and advice

Walking or wheeling (using a wheelchair) are great travel options and are also the most accessible. Walking costs nothing, whilst wheeling makes the benefits of active travel more accessible.

Small steps add up – choosing to walk or wheel just one mile to the shops and back once a week rather than drive will give you fuel savings of £19 a year. Carrying shopping bags home also has health benefits as it helps build strength, keeping muscles, bones and joints strong.

For tips on walking, why not check out these resources?  

• Living Streets UK ’s 20 tips for walking, also see their ‘ walk to school ’ campaign to get the whole family involved 
• Paths for all have over 870 health walks across Scotland, a 12-week walking programme with a free guide and diary, as well as resources for a variety of audiences , including families
• Sustrans' interactive map of the National Cycling Network to find local routes near you - the network isn't just for cyclists!

Walking and wheeling are a free and accessible way to be physically active in your daily life. Here are some of the brilliant benefits: 

• Improve your physical health - regular walking or wheeling reduces your chance of type 2 diabetes by 40%, cardiovascular disease by 35%, joint and back pain by 25%, and certain cancers by 20%.
• Great for your mental health and wellbeing - walking and wheeling can contribute to improved sleep, help to manage stress and reduce your risk of depression by 30%.
• Save money - walking or wheeling is free! Reducing car use by a quarter can save on average £295 a year in fuel costs.
• Better for the environment – if you choose to walk or wheel just one mile a week instead of driving, you’ll save up to 30kg of carbon dioxide emissions a year. 
• Contribute to your local community - replacing car journeys with walking or wheeling reduces harmful levels of air and noise pollution, as well as congestion.
• Explore and get social - whether alone or as a group, being out and about in nature and your community can make active travel enjoyable and bring social benefits. You may even find a new favourite walk or wheel and make a friend!

Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are designated areas that restrict penalty-free access for the most polluting vehicles to reduce air pollution. Air quality is particularly poor in city centres due to high concentrations of road transport. Currently, the LEZs are operational in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen.

Cycling is a healthy and efficient way to get all the benefits of travelling actively. If you need some extra assistance, why not go electric? The electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery can help you tackle longer or hillier journeys more easily than on a conventional bike.

The range of options including cargo and adapted cycles make cycling more accessible and popular than ever!

 Here are some of the benefits of cycling and ebikes, including cargo and adapted cycles:

• Reducing travel costs- Cycling UK found that after initial purchase owning an average bike compared to an average car could save you £771 a year . On average, replacing a daily 5-mile commute by car with an ebike saves £215 in fuel costs annually.
• Great for the planet - completing a 5-mile return journey by cycling could save up to 67kg in carbon dioxide emissions over a year. eBikes produce 80 times less carbon dioxide per mile than the average petrol or diesel car.
• Efficient - especially in towns and cities, cycling can be quicker than driving. You're less affected by traffic and parking restrictions.
• A diversity of options - you can choose from a range of models and assistance levels to suit your mobility and transport needs.

Handy cycling resources to explore

Electric bikes.

Electric bikes, or ebikes, are becoming increasingly popular. More and more people are choosing them as an affordable, healthy, low-carbon alternative to car journeys. 

Cycling tips and advice

Cycling UK's website has lots of cycling tips and advice.

Cycling for beginners

Sustrans' Cycling for beginners blog gives some tips for anyone new to, or wanting to get back into cycling.

Essential cycling skills

Cycling Scotland's Essential Cycling Skills e-learning tool can help you build confidence.

Local cycling groups

Explore local support - see if there are any local groups offering led rides, training or opportunities to try an ebike, cargo or adapted cycle.

Meet Sharafaldin who applied for the Low Emission Zone Support Fund and received a grant for disposing of his more polluting car. 

About Active Travel

Increasing levels of active travel can bring huge benefits to our communities, health and environment. , active travel simply means making journeys in physically active ways - like walking, wheeling (using a wheelchir or mobility aid), cycling, or scootering..

We aim to make active travel the natural choice for short journeys.

By supporting more people in Scotland to walk, wheel, and cycle for everyday short journeys, we will improve health, create safer communities, and reduce environmental impacts.

In 2019 seventeen per cent of journeys in Scotland were under 1 km, and more than half (54%) were under 5 km – these shorter trips offer a real opportunity for a significant shift to active travel.

The role of walking

Walking is key to getting more people choosing to not use car, it is by far the most likely mode of active travel. It is free, no equipment is required and it is ideal for shorter trips. Walking also forms an important part of public transport journeys – walking to and from buses, trams and trains. 

The positive impact of increased active travel

Reduced congestion - enabling people to choose active or sustainable travel will reduce congestion on our roads

Reduced air pollution - less car-driven journeys and more walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport are important in tackling air pollution and its negative health impacts. As well as being a part of the solution, active travel becomes more pleasant and therefore more likely to be adopted as air quality improves.

Higher quality public realm -  Improving opportunities to walk will create places and communities that are more able to adapt and be vibrant, creative, enterprising, and accessible

Better physical, mental and social health - Active travel has clear health benefits as physical activity increases, social connections are made and mental health is boosted by activity and time outdoors in nature. Active travel is an important opportunity for savings in terms of preventing ill health.

Reducing carbon emissions and helping reach net-zero carbon goals - Changing to active travel can have significant lifecycle carbon emissions benefits.  The largest benefits come from shifts from car to active travel for business, social and commuting journeys.

Economic growth and vibrant communities  - Investing in infrastructure and support for active travel can increase economic growth and vibrancy. Those walking, wheeling and cycling tend to spend more money locally than drivers. Increasing active travel can stimulate economic growth in urban areas and benefit local shops

• It is inclusive and reduces inequalities - Accessible walking, wheeling, cycling and good public transport links can reduce inequalities by giving equal access to employment, education and other services. 

Active travel and COVID-19

The Covid crisis has had significant impacts on active travel with huge decreases in use of public transport and a greater interest in walking and cycling. At the same time many of us have been working from home and recognising the importance of our local neighbourhoods. Other people have lost fitness and confidence to reintegrate and leave their homes and have deteriorated physically.

A number of towns and cities across Scotland implemented and benefitted from a temporary emergency active travel infrastructure initiative called Spaces for People . The initiative included a widening of pavements, closing streets to vehicles or adding temporary cycle lanes.

As Scotland moves forward from the pandemic there has been an opportunity to harness the increases in active travel, support those who have struggled to stay active, and invest in sustainale transport to build a healthier, cleaner, fairer and safer nation.  

Also in this section

• Encouraging Active Travel
• Active Travel Hubs
• Success Stories
• Community Project Transition Fund

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Active travel

Why travel actively, get on your bike, go electric, supporting longer journeys.

• get healthier
• reduce your carbon emissions

Active travel is all about getting you moving from A to B in ways that don’t use fossil fuels. Active travel improves your health and wellbeing, as well as reducing your carbon footprint and saving you money. 

The sustainable travel hierarchy is a useful way to think about improving the impact of your journeys. The higher up the hierarchy, the more sustainable and greener the travel option. The most sustainable option is walking where the only resource required is you, followed by cycling which requires some equipment. Along with wheeling (the term used for wheelchair users), these methods of travel are classed as active travel. 

• Save money – cars can be expensive; not just to purchase or lease. On average, vehicle tax, maintenance and insurance alone costs £1,100 per year – grab yourself some trainers or a bike and save money! 
• Improve your health and happiness – walking regularly can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 35%, while active travel helps manage stress and weight. 
• Help the planet and your community – switching from fossil fuelled vehicles to active travel will cut congestion, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other air pollutants that endanger public health and ecosystems. 
• Be social – walking is a great option for group journeys when you can walk and chat, while cyclists can find a great sense of community.  
• It’s quicker than you think – on average, you can walk a mile in around 15 – 20 minutes or cycle this in five. It could take longer to find your car keys! 

Walking or wheeling are great travel options and are also the most accessible – walking costs nothing while wheeling provides more opportunity to access the benefits of active travel. 

Small steps make a difference – choosing to walk or wheel just one mile to the shop and back once a week rather than drive will see fuel savings of £19 and 30kg in CO2 annually. Carrying shopping bags home also helps build strength, keeping muscles, bones and joints strong. You won’t need to go to the gym for that workout! 

For tips on walking, why not check out these resources? 

• Living Streets UK ’s 20 tips for walking, also see their ‘ Walk to school ’ campaign to get the whole family involved
• Ramblers Wellbeing Walks (England only)
• Paths for all (Scotland only)

Rather than walk, you may prefer cycling for longer distances. There’s a  national cycle network , in addition to the many dedicated cycle routes in towns and cities across the UK, so there’s no limit to how far your bike can take you. 

• Cycling builds muscle and is linked to improved heart and lung capacity. 
• In towns and cities, cycling can save time as you filter through the traffic and avoid the queues. 
• The UK government allocated  £2 billion  towards walking and cycling infrastructure, meaning cycling routes and accessibility are expected to improve. 

If you are looking to purchase a bike or cargo bike, why not look in your area for community groups offering reconditioned bikes to save your carbon footprint even further. Alternatively, you may wish to purchase a bike via your employer’s c ycle to work  scheme. 

Cycling UK has lots more  cycling tips and advice  on its website. 

Funding may be available to help you get your neglected bike back on the road. Look at Scotland’s  Cycle repair scheme , for example. 

If you need some assistance with your cycling, why not go electric?  Ebikes  and ecargo bikes have an electric motor and battery to help you cover longer journeys more easily than on a conventional cycle. Ebikes and ecargo bikes have grown in popularity in recent years, it’s likely you have seen them in your local area and not noticed the difference. 

Ebikes and ecargo bikes: 

• Are ideal for anyone who might find cycling physically challenging. 
• Provide between 25–100 miles of pedalling enhancement on a single charge 
• Give you an extra boost to cover those long journeys or big hills 
• Emit 80 times less CO2 per mile than the average petrol or diesel car. 

Find out  more on our electric bikes advice page  or explore our  information on ecargo bikes .  

There may be instances when active travel isn’t a suitable option, for example you may be travelling a long distance or have a large load. 

For these journeys why not consider using a combination of active travel and shared transport?    

It all adds up… 

• Choosing to commute by walking or cycling once a week could save around 30kg of CO2 a year.
• Reducing your car use by a quarter could save up to £295 in fuel costs and 445kg of CO2 a year. 
• At least 150 minutes of moderately intense exercise per week helps reduce your risk of developing a number of mental and physical health conditions: depression by 30%, cardiovascular disease by 35% and type II diabetes by 40% ( source: UK Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines 2019).  
• Cycling for 10 miles on an ebike costs as little as 4p in electricity if you charge at home. 
• By walking, cycling or wheeling you are reducing congestion and pollution, making local spaces more enjoyable, quieter and healthier. 

Related pages

Electric bikes, electric vehicles, shared travel options, active travel: the benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling, more information.

Explore Living Streets' pages and resources.

Plan your next journey using the National Cycle Network.

Cycling UK has some useful tips and advice for new cyclists.

Last updated: 26 April 2024

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Active Travel

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Movement for Health is a coalition of Scotland’s leading health charities, national agencies and academic institutions.  We are united in our commitment to support the least active people living with long term health conditions to be more physically active.

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Active travel

Learn more about the issues with active travel modes: walking/wheeling and cycling.

Almost all journeys begin with some amount of walking/wheeling, if only to the vehicle, station or stop. Find out more about the barriers disabled people face to walking/wheeling.

Learn more about the barriers that disabled people face to cycling.

Explore other issues

Public transport

Learn more about the issues with public transport modes: buses and coaches, trains, light rail services, trams and metros.

Private transport

Learn more about the issues with private transport modes: car travel, taxis, and private hire vehicles.

Find out more about the barriers disabled people face to door to door transport services,

Learn more about the financial barriers to transport that disabled people face, and the cycle of transport poverty.

We can't do this without your support. Take action, give what you can, or sign up as a member - and join our movement of disabled people fighting for a better future.

Wheels for Wellbeing Quick Guide to Accessible Active Travel

Introduction.

At Wheels for Wellbeing we’re releasing a series of guidance sheets for individuals interested in active travel, local authorities, NGOs, other organisations involved in decisions about walking, wheeling and cycling schemes. These guidance sheets help explain the reasoning behind different aspects of accessibility and active travel policy, practice and design.

Our guidance sheets are aligned with our  Guide to Inclusive Cycling . They may be printed, electronically distributed or quoted provided credit is given to Wheels for Wellbeing.

Download the Wheels for Wellbeing Quick Guide to Accessible Active Travel as a Word document

Download the Wheels for Wellbeing Quick Guide to Accessible Active Travel as a pdf

What is active travel?

Active travel means making ordinary everyday utility trips or journeys in ways that include physical activity.

The most common active travel modes are walking/wheeling and cycling .

Utility trips are trips made for any reason other than simply making the journey – Going for a walk/wheel is not a utility trip; walking/wheeling to meet a friend, is.

Active travel journeys can include journeys with any destination – commuting, caring journeys such as school runs, shopping, medical appointments, social activities and more, where physically active modes are used for some or all of the trip (see multi-modal journeys below).

Active travel, powered mobility aids and micro-mobility

Recognition of all fully-powered mobility aids used by Disabled people as active travel modes is critical for equity and inclusion of Disabled people in public spaces:

At Wheels for Wellbeing, we consider that electric and e-assist micro-mobility devices have the potential to be important low-carbon modes for Disabled and non-Disabled people, with further potential to reduce driven trips and so reduce risk of road traffic collisions and air pollution. There is ongoing debate about whether e-scooters and other micro-mobility devices should be included within active travel.

Mobility devices that do not require pedal power and are entirely e-assisted still offer physical activity for many Disabled people. The core and limb strength required, for example, to stand on an e-scooter can offer important exercise as too can the hand-eye coordination offered by a power chair or mobility scooter. In addition, these devices might be the only means that Disabled people can access the outdoors and the mental health benefits of travelling through parks/green spaces and their local community.

Therefore, we define fully-powered micro-mobility use as active travel for Disabled people, alongside other walking/wheeling and cycling mobility modes.

We do not define micro-mobility use as active travel for non-Disabled people. Non-Disabled people will almost invariably have other, comparable, more active alternative modes they could use, such as walking or cycling. However, this does not mean we consider micro-mobility to be a negative choice: used correctly it  is a low-risk, low-cost, non-polluting, fun and convenient option for many non-Disabled users.

Active travel includes Disabled people using all forms of powered micro-mobility as their mobility aid, as well people using legally recognised class 2 and 3 “invalid carriages”, to undertake utility journeys.

Non-Disabled people using micro-mobility devices such as e-scooters are not using active travel, but are still choosing a positive, valid form of mobility.

Examples of powered mobility aids are powerchairs, mobility scooters, powered attachments to manual wheelchairs, e-assist cycles and micro-mobility devices.

The core strength, dexterity, endurance of uneven surfaces and movement involved in making any journey outdoors are all physical challenges for many Disabled people. In addition, the benefits of being outdoors, taking part in community, self-care and social activities and making chosen journeys with increased independence are hugely important. Disabled people who are restricted to remaining in their home or to only travel in private vehicles due to inaccessibility of public space and inadequacy of mobility aids are frequently denied these benefits .

We need legal recognition of all types of mobility aids used by Disabled people, and broader understanding amongst decision makers and the wider public of the physical, psychological, social and economic benefits that fully-powered mobility aids bring and could bring to so many Disabled people.

E-assist pedal cycles (EAPCs)

E-assist cycling provides moderate to vigorous physical activity , comparable to brisk walking, meaning e-cycling is a form of active travel for Disabled and non-Disabled people. A high proportion of Disabled cyclists use e-assist cycles, including using e-assist cycles as essential mobility aids.

Active travel and multi-modal journeys Multi-modal journeys are any trips in which a person uses more than one way of travelling to reach one destination. Active multi-modal journeys use at least one active travel mode for at least one section of a journey.

Active multi-modal journeys include walking/wheeling or cycling to a bus, train or tram stop, or to a cycle or vehicle hire station, then will usually also include walking/wheeling or cycling to a final destination.

Active travel, horse riding and horse driving

Active travel modes are those commonly used to complete utility journeys. Horse riding and horse driving are not practical, every-day journey modes for most people in the UK: The high cost of horse ownership or hire and practical considerations prevent most people from riding at all, let alone to education, employment, shopping, healthcare or on social visits. Horse riding and horse driving can be good leisure, exercise and therapy for Disabled people, but they are not active travel modes.

Equestrian activities (horse riding and horse driving) are not active travel modes in the UK, because very few people can use these modes to make utility journeys.

Why is accessible active travel important?

Physical health, mental health and social benefits.

A high proportion of Disabled people can participate in active travel with access to the  appropriate mobility aids and an accessible environment.. Active travel brings huge physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits as well as increased mobility and social participation.

Environment and sustainability

Transport is the UK’s largest source of CO 2 emissions . Enabling accessible active travel could hugely reduce carbon emissions via mode shift, with the resulting reduction in miles driven simultaneously reducing the negative health, social and economic impacts of air pollution and road collisions . The shift from internal combustion to electric cars will have a relatively much smaller effect on CO­ 2 emissions and potentially may increase risk of injury and death to people walking/wheeling and cycling due to lack of noise as well as increased vehicle weight and front-end height .

Disabled people are more severely affected by climate breakdown and other negative impacts of high-carbon transportation such as poor air quality than non-Disabled people. Providing accessible active travel options will mitigate the impact of climate breakdown on Disabled people while reducing carbon emissions.

Many Disabled people want to live and travel sustainably . Participating in active travel is a way that we can reduce our environmental impact and bring health and social/community benefits to the wider population as well as ourselves.

Active travel and public transport  take up less road space than private vehicles. The more people who can use active travel, the less congestion there will be for those who need to drive or be driven, including some Disabled people, people with temporary impairments and those transporting heavy items long distances.

Across all transport types Disabled people make 38% fewer journeys than non-Disabled people. Working-age Disabled adults are far less likely than non-Disabled people to hold a driving license , making active travel important to enable many Disabled people to make journeys when and where we want to. Most public transport journeys also begin and end with active travel. Being able to make utility journeys in a reliable, timely fashion is critical in enabling Disabled people to access education, employment, healthcare, caring, community and social activities, all of which have knock-on economic impacts.

Improving active travel infrastructure has been shown to consistently increase footfall and spend in local businesses. This includes “Purple Pound” spending from enabling Disabled people to access shops and other venues, in line with the legal obligations businesses and local authorities already have under the Equality Act (2010).

How can we make active travel more accessible?

Uk legislation and international obligations.

The Equality Act (2010) and United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) , to which the UK is a signatory, both require Disabled people to be provided with equal access to mobility compared to non-Disabled people.

“Parties shall take effective measures to ensure personal mobility with the greatest possible independence for persons with disabilities, including by facilitating the personal mobility of persons with disabilities in the manner and at the time of their choice, and at affordable cost.” – United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities article 20(a)

UK national guidance

Government reports such as Gear Change , and guidance such as LTN1/20 and Inclusive Mobility provide useful information about accessibility standards

Wheels for Wellbeing guidance and campaigning

For information on inclusive cycling, see our 4 th edition Guide to Inclusive Cycling (5 th edition due in 2024), as well as more recent guidance on our resources page .

If you’re a Disabled cyclist or ally, join our free Disabled Cycling Activists Network for peer support and resources.

Representation of Disabled people

Representation is an essential part of improving access to active travel. For free, high-quality images of Disabled cyclists, register for our photobank or contact [email protected]

News archive

E-cycles, fire safety and disabled people’s mobility, cycling infrastructure that’s accessible to “everyone from 8 to 80 and beyond”, gradients – quick reference guide, crossfall – quick reference guide, wheels for wellbeing guide to mobility aids, bank junction modal filters – consultation response.

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• On The Move

Active Travel: promoting walking, wheeling & cycling in Oxfordshire

Working with communities to increase walking, wheeling and cycling.

Active Oxfordshire is delighted to be working with local communities and partner organisations to help increase rates of walking, wheeling and cycling in areas of greatest need across the county.

We are proud to work together with Oxfordshire County Council, community groups and residents to make a sustainable difference to increasing active travel and creating healthier neighbourhoods. We have previously worked with Oxfordshire County Council to support the delivery of Community Activation in Witney, Bicester West and Oxford.

In November 2023, we are launching a three year Community Outreach Active Travel Fund to increase active travel rates further across the county, funded by Oxfordshire County Council.

We will focus on priority neighbourhoods and market towns, ensuring that we reach areas of most need. Our focus on Community Activation is essential to ensure that we are working with partners to reach people living in priority areas, as well as ensuring that increases in Active Travel are driven by the communities themselves and can create long term change.

Active Travel outcomes so far across Oxfordshire

During 2022-2023, thanks to funding from Oxfordshire County Council, we were able to commission a range of community based active travel projects across the county. Projects included a mentoring and training pathway for female and non-binary mechanics through Broken Spoke Bike Co-op; training for Breeze Ride Leaders in Cherwell; intergenerational street play project with Oxfordshire Play Association and much more.

Active Travel in action - Black Women Bike

Created by Dr Dianne Regisford, Black Women Bike brings together African Diaspora community leaders to explore why over 90% of black women do not bike, support leaders to learn how to ride and create a culture of cycling and better health. Thanks to Active Travel funding, community leaders received a bicycle, locks, lights, helmets and tuition. In addition, they took part in a Mechanics 101 course with Broken Spoke and met weekly at Blackbird Leys Community Centre. To ensure that the women could cycle in culturally appropriate clothing, one of the participants produced clothing that could be worn whilst cycling. The women now ride weekly in Blackbird Leys and Abingdon, with plans to provide training for cycle leaders to inspire other women to learn to ride.

"Growing up back home we have perception as riding a bicycle is for men not for women. I want to use a bicycle as a means of transport and to be able to cycle as a hobby."

Previous Active Travel outcomes

• 79 children have benefited from bike clubs and tuition to date. Of these children there were 44 Boys and 35 Girls. 60% of the children are in receipt of benefits/eligible for Free School Meals. • 59 residents have been engaged in the new Street Tag Cogges Café Loyalty scheme & accessing the new Cogges Polytag • Six vulnerable residents who have been on the shielding list took part in the first Tea, Talk and Walk session on 26th August

• Six residents have accessed the FAST Family Bike Scheme to date; three adults & three children, all of whom who are eligible for the FAST scheme which targets those from areas of disadvantage in Bicester • 12 women have been trained as Breeze Ride Leaders and can now lead female group rides • 15 teachers or Youth Activators have been trained by British Cycling • 14 women have taken part in Breeze Rides in Bicester to date

• 20 adults accessed the first Dr Bike session offered by Cyclox with a gender breakdown of 17 women & 3 men • 1850 Adventure Maps were provided to school children in Cowley, Temple Cowley, Florence Park, Littlemore and Rose Hill immediately before Summer holidays began • 8000 walkability/ neighbourhood maps were provided to households in and around Low Traffic Neighbourhood areas

Breeze ride cyclists, July 2021

I would like to say how amazing the coaches were with all the kids up at the school and James especially as he was so nervous at the start and yet 4 sessions later and he went from being nervous even with stabilisers on, to cycling confidently with no stabilisers at all!

Parent of child from Witney who benefited from bike clubs and tuition from Windrush Bike Project

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Walking, wheeling and cycling to be offered on prescription in nationwide trial

Eleven local authority areas in England to benefit from £12.7 million in multi-year funding.

• trials in 11 areas across the country to help people’s mental and physical health
• GPs will issue social prescriptions such as walking, wheeling and cycling, backed by £12.7 million
• schemes will include cycling and walking groups, cycle training and free bike loans

Social prescriptions, including walking, wheeling and cycling, will be offered by GPs as part of a new trial to improve mental and physical health and reduce disparities across the country, the government has announced today (22 August 2022).

The government has awarded £12.7 million in multi-year funding to 11 local authority areas in England. The funding will go towards several pilot projects in each location, including:

• adult cycle training
• free bike loans
• walking groups

Other schemes include all-ability cycling taster days where people who may not have cycled before can try to in a friendly environment, or walking and cycling mental health groups where people can connect with their communities as they get active.

The pilots must be delivered alongside improved infrastructure so people feel safe to cycle and walk.

The 11 local authority areas that will trial social prescriptions are:

• Bath and North East Somerset
• Staffordshire

The pilots, a commitment in the government’s Gear Change plan published in 2020, aim to evaluate the impact of cycling and walking on an individual’s health, such as reduced GP appointments and reliance on medication due to more physical activity. For the first time, transport, active travel and health officials will work together towards a whole systems approach to health improvement and tackling health disparities.

Walking and Cycling Minister, Trudy Harrison, said:  

Walking and cycling has so many benefits – from improving air quality in our communities to reducing congestion on our busiest streets. It also has an enormous positive impact on physical and mental health, which is why we have funded these projects which will get people across the country moving and ease the burden on our NHS .

Minister for Health, Maria Caulfield, said:

Getting active is hugely beneficial for both our mental and physical health – helping reduce stress and ward off other illness such as heart disease and obesity. The UK is leading the way in embedding social prescribing in our NHS and communities across the country. We’ve already exceeded our target to ensure over 900,000 people are referred to social prescribing schemes by 2023-24 and this pilot will help us identify further schemes to reduce disparities and boost mental and physical wellbeing across the country.

National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said:

As a nation we need healthier, cheaper and more pleasant ways to get around for everyday trips. Active Travel England’s mission is to ensure millions of people nationwide can do just that – so it’s easier to leave the car at home and to enjoy the benefits that come with it. Moving more will lead to a healthier nation, a reduced burden on the NHS , less cancer, heart disease and diabetes, as well as huge cost savings. This trial aims to build on existing evidence to show how bringing transport, active travel and health together can make a positive impact on communities across England.

The pilots will be delivered between 2022 and 2025 with on-going monitoring and evaluation to support continued learning.

The project is bringing together a range of government departments and agencies including:

• NHS England
• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Sport England
• National Academy for Social Prescribing
• Department for Health and Social Care

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