active travel infrastructure

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Active Transportation

Americans rely on connected transportation networks for safe and efficient travel by road, rail, and air. Yet many Americans lack access to connected active transportation networks—which are especially important for the 52% of all trips that are under three miles. Instead of connected networks, pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair and micromobility users can encounter dead ends, miles without sidewalks, roads without safe options, and other network gaps that make it harder or even unsafe to get around by walking, biking, or rolling. In fact, local transportation planners and active transportation organizations have estimated  there is $7 billion in unmet need for active transportation networks across the country. DOT, which has historic funding available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is working to meet communities’ need for safe, affordable, and convenient active transportation networks for all users.

In line with the Fiscal Year 2022-2026 DOT Strategic Plan’s goals on safety, climate, and equity, the Department seeks to play its part to increase the percentage of trips by transit and active transportation modes by 50% from 2020 levels.

Active transportation networks—including bike lanes, sidewalks, and multi-use trails—help create vibrant communities by providing safe, comfortable, convenient, reliable, efficient, and affordable ways for people to get around. Investing in active transportation can drive community cohesion and economic prosperity while helping to ensure people are connected to the outdoors and the essential places they need to go each day. Importantly, active transportation networks provide opportunities for affordable, low-emission or zero-emission trips while closing gaps between people and their next ride—after all, active transportation is an essential part of every public transportation trip. Active transportation infrastructure helps create interconnected transportation networks that can help reduce congestion and traffic fatalities when designed with all users in mind; improve access to economic opportunity; increase physical activity and improve human health; and tighten the social fabric of communities.

See the drop-down tabs below for more information about the benefits of active transportation, DOT’s relevant initiatives and funding programs, and a list of resources.

Safety: Safety is DOT’s top priority. Investments in and the expansion of active transportation infrastructure are proven safety countermeasures promoted by FHWA. We are in the midst of a national roadway safety crisis, with more than 40,000 people dying in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Rates of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities continue to increase, demonstrating the need to invest in safe infrastructure as part of the broader Safe System Approach outlined in the National Roadway Safety Strategy . Learn more about DOT’s efforts to improve safety for those walking, biking, and rolling here . 

Economic Growth: Encouraging pedestrian activity and expanding transportation options through active transportation investments help ensure people are better connected to essential destinations like work and school as well as leisure opportunities like shopping and entertainment. This has been shown to boost nearby property values and economic activity . Active transportation investments also help to reduce healthcare costs by encouraging physical activity.  

Climate Change Mitigation: Active transportation includes zero-emission modes like walking and biking, meaning that active transportation trips can help avoid greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. Making it more convenient to walk, bike, and roll is a key strategy in the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization , which outlines an interagency approach to decarbonizing the transportation sector, the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Learn more about climate action at DOT here .  

Equitable Transportation Access and Community Connectivity: Transportation access is inequitable in communities across the U.S.: people in low-income areas tend to own fewer vehicles, have longer commutes, have higher transportation costs, and are more likely to be injured or killed on the road. Active transportation can provide individuals with affordable transportation options to safely and conveniently connect them to essential destinations, including to public transit, at low or no cost per trip. This links people and communities to one another and to economic opportunity. Click here to learn more about the DOT Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer, an interactive web application that explores the cumulative burden communities experience as a result of underinvestment in transportation.

Physical and Mental Health: According  to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 25% of adults and 1 in 6 high school children meet daily activity guidelines. Active transportation networks can help incorporate physical activity in daily life by encouraging people to walk, cycle, or roll to get where they need to go—while also avoiding the release of air pollutants that can harm human health. The CDC recommends  investments in better active transportation infrastructure, such as sidewalks and paths, as a way to encourage more physical activity, improve mental health and quality of life, and reduce health costs. Learn more about active transportation and health here . 

Congestion and Resilience: In combination with good public transportation access, walking, biking, and rolling can replace car trips, thereby reducing traffic congestion and providing more transportation choices. For example, research  showed that a shutdown of transit services in Los Angeles led to a highway delay increase of 47 percent, and that the overall value of transit’s congestion relief benefit there was estimated to be upwards of $4.1 billion per year. Active transportation is a key link to public transit, and thus supports its congestion relief benefits. Additionally, active transportation investments can increase the resilience of our transportation systems by providing safe, convenient travel options alongside other modes.

Every transportation agency has the opportunity to improve conditions and opportunities for active transportation within their transportation systems. Federal surface transportation law allows state DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to fund pedestrian and bicycle projects and activities from several transportation funding programs, including both formula and discretionary programs.

Given the numerous individual and community benefits that walking, biking, and rolling provide—including for health, safety, the environment, mobility, and quality of life—DOT encourages transportation agencies to consider walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes, to provide transportation choices for people of all ages and abilities, and to go beyond minimum standards to provide safe, convenient, and comfortable active transportation networks. Additionally, the US Access Board published the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG), which may be used by practitioners to ensure designs for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way, such as sidewalks and street crossings, are accessible and usable by people living with disabilities.” DOT and DOJ must adopt these Guidelines before they become enforceable Standards. Many of the BIL grants and funding opportunities can be used to develop and implement ADA Transition Plans that remove barriers to accessibility.

Communities are eligible for federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that will allow states and MPOs to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, safety, and inequity through unprecedented opportunities to invest in active transportation networks. DOT encourages implementation of projects and programs that improve safety, equity, and accessibility for all road users. BIL created new active transportation programs and new requirements that will help improve active transportation safety, such as requiring that states use a portion of planning funds for Complete Streets activities, complete vulnerable road user assessments, and prioritize safety spending on vulnerable road users (VRUs). More information on DOT’s Operating Administrations’ roles and their programs and initiatives that support safe, convenient active transportation networks is provided below.

DOT Operating Administrations

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

FHWA provides stewardship over the construction, maintenance and preservation of the Nation’s highways, bridges and tunnels through financial and technical assistance and guidance to State departments of transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). FHWA coordinates with State DOTs to promote and facilitate increased use of non-motorized transportation, including developing infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists and educational, promotional, and safety programs for using such facilities. FHWA provides State and local agencies with guidance on safe roadway design standards. FHWA funding, primarily in the form of formula grants to State DOTs and MPOs, can be used to build and improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. FHWA is also responsible for DOT’s Complete Streets program, which supports transportation agencies in planning, developing, and operating safe, comfortable, and connected streets. FHWA and FTA maintain a table indicating potential eligibility of bicycle and pedestrian projects for current funding opportunities (linked in the above text box).

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

NHTSA’s mission is to saves lives, prevent injuries, and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activities. NHTSA’s website includes resources and information about safe bicycling and walking, including safety research and public education materials. NHTSA also houses the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which is a nationwide census providing yearly data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes, including those involving pedestrians and bicyclists.  

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

FTA provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems, including overseeing grants to state and local transit providers. Multiple FTA grant programs are available to help cities and towns invest in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, which improves mobility and helps people access public transportation. FTA maintains a list of grant programs with funding eligibility for bicycle projects.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

FMCSA works to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries by enforcing safety regulations, supporting research on safety information systems and safer vehicle technology, and providing States with financial assistance for roadside inspections and other commercial motor vehicle safety programs. These programs are designed to reduce commercial motor vehicle collisions, including those that involve bicyclists and pedestrians.

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

FRA supports the safe movement of people and goods by rail through regulatory and inspection work, investments to develop and improve the rail network, and through research and technology development. FRA has worked to identify safety risks and to improve the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists at grade crossings, including gathering information on signals, signs, and other devices used to prevent non-motorized fatalities.

DOT Funding Programs

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A): The BIL established the new SS4A discretionary program with $5 billion in funding over 5 years. SS4A funds initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries, including activities related to pedestrians and bicyclists. 

National Highway Performance Program (NHPP): NHPP supports the condition and performance of the National Highway System. The BIL provided approximately $148 billion in funding over five years for the NHPP. Funding can be used for investments in bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program: The STBG Program provides $72 billion in funding over 5 years to States for a wide variety of transportation infrastructure projects, including active transportation projects. Federal law requires 10 percent of these funds to be set aside for Transportation Alternatives, which include a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects like pedestrian and bicycle facilities. There is a further set aside for the Recreational Trails Program, which provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses.

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP): HSIP seeks to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned roads and roads on tribal land. The BIL provided approximately $3 billion in funding annually for five years, which can be used to fund the installation of pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades.

Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning : TOD is a planning strategy that includes a mixture of commercial, residential, office and entertainment uses centered around, or located near, a transit station. When completed successfully, TOD has the capacity to create thriving communities with compact development that provide options to safely walk or ride a bicycle, increase connections to transit, and expand access to services. Through this program, FTA provides funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning in context with a new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investments. The BIL increased funding for the program by 38% to approximately $68.9 million over five years.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program:  The CMAQ program supports surface transportation projects and other related efforts that contribute air quality improvements and provide congestion relief. The BIL continues the CMAQ Program to provide a flexible funding source to State and local governments for transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act, including pedestrian, bicycle, and shared micromobility facilities and programs. The program is funded with over $2.5 billion per year for five years. 

Carbon Reduction Program (CRP): The BIL established the CRP with $6 billion in funding over five years for projects designed to reduce carbon dioxide emission from transportation, including pedestrian, bicycling, and other nonmotorized transport facilities; projects that shift transportation demand to other modes to reduce demand for roads; and electric bike and other micromobility projects, including charging infrastructure. 

Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program: DOT has released a combined Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for two programs: the Reconnecting Communities Program, funded at $1 billion from the BIL, and the Neighborhood Equity and Access Program, funded at $3 billion from the IRA. The programs remain separate in terms of award, but both programs provide grants to improve multimodal transportation access, to foster equitable development, and to remove, retrofit, or mitigate highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity. Projects that improve walkability, safety, and affordable transportation access are eligible for funding. An example of how Reconnecting Communities is improving active transportation access, mobility, and community livability can be found in the Reconnecting Communities Story Map feature of Buffalo, New York . 

Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP): ATIIP is a new competitive grant program created in the BIL to support projects to construct active transportation networks within communities and active transportation spines connecting communities and regions. The program received $45 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2023.  

DOT Initiatives

Every Day Counts (EDC): EDC is a State-based model that identifies and rapidly deploys proven yet underutilized innovations that make our transportation system adaptable, sustainable, equitable and safer for all. Proven innovations promoted through EDC facilitate greater efficiency at the State, local, and Tribal levels, saving time, money, and resources while ensuring our infrastructure is built better, faster, and smarter. FHWA works with State transportation departments, local governments, tribes, private industry, and other stakeholders to identify a new collection of innovations to champion every two years that merit accelerated deployment.

Complete Streets Initiative: Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users. This includes people of all ages and abilities, regardless of whether they are traveling as drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or public transportation riders. The concept of Complete Streets encompasses many approaches to planning, designing, and operating roadways and rights of way with all users in mind to make the transportation network safer and more efficient. Complete Street policies are set at the state, regional, and local levels and are frequently supported by roadway design guidelines.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS): SRTS is an approach that promotes walking and bicycling to school through infrastructure improvements, enforcement, tools, safety education, and incentives. SRTS initiatives aim to improve safety and increase physical activity levels for students. SRTS programs can be implemented by a state DOT, MPO, local government, school district, or even a school. SRTS projects are eligible under STBG and the Transportation Alternatives set-aside and may be eligible under HSIP.

Role of States and Local Transportation and Enforcement Agencies In partnership with DOT, state and local agencies, community groups, and individuals have a significant role in determining how safe the transportation network in their community will be. State and local transportation agencies and MPOs, which plan, design, build, and maintain roads, sidewalks, and transit stations, are required by law to improve the safety of transportation infrastructure, including for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and bicyclists. Safety enforcement agencies have a responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of safety laws and regulations and that these laws are enforced.

Announcements

• U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $1.25 billion in Direct, Accessible Grants for Local Communities to Improve Roadway Safety (February 2024) 
• NHTSA: Pedestrian Safety Month (October 2023)
• FHWA: My Street Planning Tool for Improving Pedestrian Safety (February 2023)
• FHWA: Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning, Program, and Project Development Guidance (May 2023)
• FHWA: Moving to a Complete Streets Design Model: A Report to Congress on Opportunities and Challenges (March 2022)

Related Links

• DOT: Improving Safety for Walking, Biking, and Rolling 
• FHWA: Bicycle and Pedestrian Program 
• FHWA: Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety 
• FHWA: Speed Management Resources
• FHWA: Micromobility Resources
• FHWA: Bicycle Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System
• FHWA/FTA: Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding Opportunities Table 
• FHWA/FTA: Transportation Planning Capacity Building on Complete Streets
• FHWA/FTA: Flexible Funding for Transit Access
• NHTSA: Bicycle Safety 
• NHTSA: Pedestrian Safety

Related Documents 

• FHWA: Bikeway Selection Guide
• FHWA Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool  and User Guide
• NHTSA: Low-Cost Pedestrian Safety Zones: An Eight-Step Handbook 
• NHSTA: Comparative Study of Communities with High Rates of Pedestrian Injuries
• BTS: Safety in Numbers:  Literature Review

* The information posted on DOT websites may include hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. DOT provides these links and pointers solely for our users' information and convenience. The Department of Transportation does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites and does not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.

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Invest in Walking and Cycling For Sustainable, Safe Cities. Here’s How.

• Urban Mobility
• Health & Road Safety

EDITOR’S NOTE: World Bank representatives Felipe Targa and Giovanni Zayas are contributors to this article.

Traditional, car-centric transport planning has not only increased greenhouse gas emissions, but also detrimentally impacted air quality, road injuries and fatalities, and traffic congestion. As the world faces the climate crisis, as well as growing risks in road safety, a shift to sustainable transport is needed.

Attaining and sustaining high rates of walking and cycling — also known as active mobility, and the lowest carbon modes of transport — are among the most powerful changes communities can make to achieve their sustainability, economic and social goals. Prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists over motor vehicles and ensuring safety of all road users is best achieved by investing in active mobility infrastructure and initiatives. Yet, walking and cycling remain grossly underfunded , while car-centered planning and design continue to take the lead.

A recent paper from WRI, the World Bank and the Dutch Government sets out how investment in walking and cycling can be achieved to increase or sustain significant rates of active travel globally, and how investments can be improved.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that already have high levels of walking and cycling should especially take note: Each year approximately 1.25 million people are killed in road traffic crashes in these countries. Many of these fatalities are pedestrians and cyclists, due to a lack of safe infrastructure and speed management strategies. Investing in these interventions can help reduce these risks.

The Many Benefits of Walking and Cycling

Active mobility has immense untapped potential and, when fostered through safe infrastructure, brings numerous economic, environmental, health and social benefits to the community. In urban areas over 50% of trips are typically under 10-kilometers, distances that are easily walked or cycled. Yet cities and countries often overlook the critical role of walking and cycling in the transport system and the numerous benefits this can bring their communities, meaning walking and cycling gets left out of transport budgets and infrastructure projects.

First, high rates of active mobility lead to greater connectivity, reduced traffic and parking congestion , more reliable travel times and increased public transit ridership. Cities in Southeast Asia lose 2 to 5% of their annual GDP to congestion, with Manila in the Philippines suffering the worst loss at $67 million per day. Improving walking and cycling infrastructure can help to lessen congestion and the monetary loss associated with it.

Second, active travel can help reduce emissions to achieve global targets. Cities contribute 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and 21% of these come from urban transport alone. Shifting to walking and cycling can drastically reduce emissions and is the quickest and most efficient way to decarbonize transport.

Third, positive effects on public health are also abundant with safe walking and cycling infrastructure. For example, the World Health Organization found that scaling up sustainable mobility in Accra, Ghana, could save up to 5,500 premature deaths with improvements to air quality and an additional 33,000 lives from increased physical activity over a 35-year period — and a saving of $15 billion in health care costs.

Fourth, cities and towns have witnessed boosts to their economy upon improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, such as increased sales, commercial rent and job creation. One case study estimated that 11 to 14 jobs are created per $1 million invested in cycling and walking projects compared to the seven jobs created when investing in highways.

Finally, traveling by foot or bike even improves equity, social cohesion, perceptions of security and liveability.  After Istanbul, Turkey, pedestrianized its peninsula, a survey revealed that 68% of pedestrian respondents felt more comfortable in the area. Many low-income populations also live with little transport access or unsafe and inconvenient routes to their destinations. Constructing safe active travel networks can improve access to opportunities and services for these disadvantaged groups. Ultimately, people’s physical, mental, social and economic health benefit from the ability to walk or bike in safe environments.

Methods for Investing and How it has Been Achieved

Finding the funds to support active mobility infrastructure is often a major obstacle for communities — despite walking and cycling infrastructure being the most cost-effective way to benefit the most residents  and to improve transportation systems.

Methods for investing in walking and cycling vary widely, but there are some key ways funding can be achieved at the local, national, international and even private sector levels:

1) Cities and Towns Find Innovative Methods to Invest in Active Travel 

The most common way local governments fund their active mobility projects is through general municipal funds, public works budgets or capital improvement programs. Towns and cities can also merge projects across departments to reduce costs and unlock further funds — such as installing bike lanes during pavement resurfacing.

A more advanced step that local governments can take is to develop active mobility strategies (sometimes termed non-motorized transport strategies), especially those that include dedicated funds or funding sources. In 2014 the city of Fortaleza, Brazil, adopted a strategic cycling infrastructure plan, totalling 524-kilometers. To fund the network, the city tapped into revenue from an online and app-based parking system. Annual bike counts conducted by the city have seen a 153% increase in the number of cyclists from 2012 to 2017 and the cycle network has grown 350% since 2013.

To overcome limited resources and tight budgets, local governments have also become creative and found other ways to source the needed funds. These sources can range from congestion charging to creating Business Improvement Districts to requiring developers to include sidewalks and bike lanes in their designs.

How to Achieve Long Term Financing for Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Initiatives

As well as the ideas suggested here, the following policy recommendations provide some direction for sustainable financing:

• Prioritize active mobility in policies on national and local levels by aligning it to broader goals on climate, road safety, health, equity and green recovery strategies.
• Integrate cycling and pedestrian infrastructure into: (i) long term transport plans as a key component of integrated transport systems, (ii) standards for design in local practices for urban infrastructure, and (iii) financing schemes at the national and regional or metropolitan levels.
• Gear substantial amounts of international climate funding and investment toward active mobility and agreeing on corporate commitments for the inclusion of active mobility projects in infrastructure loans from MDBs.
• Dedicate a minimum 20% of the transport or infrastructure budget to active mobility to fulfil active mobility goals in a straightforward and sustained form.
• Realize the opportunities to finance active mobility in LMICs and make a shift that would meet transport needs, address economic constraints, and relieve climate change impact.

2) Countries Need to Integrate Active Mobility into Existing Transport Plans

At the national level, creating active mobility policies and plans is also the most effective way to ensure funds go toward walking and cycling infrastructure and are sustained over time. 

Ireland, for example, has developed a comprehensive active travel investment program set to receive 20% of the annual transport budget. At €360 million per year, the country is investing €1 million a day in active mobility, a huge increase from the previous €12.64 million (less than 2% of the annual budget.) Notably, Ireland has also chosen to split the funds equally between walking and cycling, highlighting the need for walking and pedestrian infrastructure to be given greater weight.

Historically, nationally designated funds for active mobility have been lacking, but as the climate crisis looms and the COVID-19 pandemic persists, the importance of active mobility is increasingly being recognized. The funding that does exist is largely clustered in high-income countries located in Europe and North America, reflecting a distinct need for national governments elsewhere around the globe to prioritize active mobility in their budgets. For LMICs, a critical first step is to integrate walking and cycling into existing national transport plans or standards.

3) International Investment has Global Potential to Address Safety Deficits

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have supported nations and cities across all regions of the world with policymaking and infrastructure development. Multilateral finance has an important role to play in advancing active mobility in LMICs given the considerable financial and institutional challenges these countries often face.

MDBs and international climate funds especially have the potential to address safety deficits in the global road network. Currently, over 85% of roads do not meet minimum walking and cycling safety requirements. Although most multilateral projects related to walking and cycling are to provide technical assistance, there are a few examples of active mobility infrastructure projects.

In 2009, the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility financed sustainable mobility projects in four Argentine cities . The investments financed 18-kilometers of bikeways, a public bike-sharing system and capacity building projects, as well as other public transport and urban planning activities. Although the reach of the project was modest, the replication potential is significant and could serve as an example of how climate funding can produce infrastructure that improves conditions for people who walk and cycle.

4) Private Sector and Public-private Partnerships Find Incentives in Investment

In addition to public and international funding, many private sources invest in active mobility infrastructure or programs. Public-private partnerships can be particularly powerful for financing active mobility and have been used to introduce bikeshare systems in several large cities, such as London, Mexico City, New York and Paris.

Other private institutions may find that their missions are mirrored in the benefits brought by active mobility. Hospitals and health care systems , for example, have been known to contribute to physical infrastructure projects, especially those that provide access to their network for employees, visitors and patients alike.

Universities and colleges are also keen to improve accessibility for their students, faculty and staff through cycling networks. In 2020, an assessment by Decisio and the Dutch Cycling Embassy for Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Lima found that it would cost the university six times less to provide its employees with cycling facilities than to provide on-campus parking.

It’s Time to Improve Investments in Walking and Cycling

Active mobility has yet to become an institutional priority at the local, national or international level, where decisions about resources and financing opportunities are made.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen massive global increases in people walking and cycling as they social distance and seek ways to move around their communities safely. Interventions, like pop-up bike lanes and pedestrianized streets, have grown during the pandemic and will play an important role in economic recovery as public transportation ridership remains low. Cities around the world should be careful not to lose this momentum for active travel by investing in walking and cycling infrastructure through various green economic recovery plans.

Now is the time to be bold and invest big in safe and convenient walking and cycling infrastructure to improve connectivity, protect pedestrians and cyclists, and reap the multitude of benefits that come with active travel. Reclaiming and redesigning roads and public space is necessary for walking and cycling to become safer and for a meaningful modal shift to occur — and none of this will be possible without significant investment.

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Policies to Promote Active Travel: Evidence from Reviews of the Literature

• Built Environment and Health (MJ Nieuwenhuijsen and AJ de Nazelle, Section Editors)
• Published: 10 July 2017
• Volume 4 , pages 278–285, ( 2017 )

Cite this article

• Meghan Winters 1 ,
• Ralph Buehler 2 &
• Thomas Götschi 3  

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108 Citations

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Purpose of review

While many levels of government recognize that walking and cycling (active travel) are critical to healthy cities, a continued challenge is to identify and prioritize strategies that will increase walking and cycling for transportation. We review evidence on policies that can increase active travel.

Recent findings

The reviews included here conclude that policies related to active travel may operate at various levels of the socio-ecological framework, including society, cities, routes or individuals. The provision of convenient, safe and connected walking and cycling infrastructure is at the core of promoting active travel, but policies may work best when implemented in comprehensive packages.

There is strong evidence that active travel can result in substantial health benefits. However, there remains considerable uncertainty about the exact effects of specific policies on walking or cycling rates or safety. Further research is needed to quantify the impact of specific policies or packages of policies, especially across different settings or for different population segments.

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Acknowledgments

This manuscript is based on a research brief prepared by the authors for Active Living Research, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. We would like to acknowledge Prabhu Ponkshe, Jim Sallis, David R. Bassett, Jr., Sean Co, Ruth L. Steiner and other Robert Wood Johnson staff for their valuable feedback and contributions as part of the research brief. We also acknowledge Kyle Lukacs for his help collecting and organizing the literature and thank the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech for financially supporting Lukacs’ work. We also acknowledge Moreno Zanotto for assistance with manuscript preparation.

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Winters, M., Buehler, R. & Götschi, T. Policies to Promote Active Travel: Evidence from Reviews of the Literature. Curr Envir Health Rpt 4 , 278–285 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-017-0148-x

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The pandemic has changed daily life in so many ways, and one consequence has been a shift in how people get around, with a sudden boom in cycling and walking. Now, say Nick Perrin and Joe Seymour, we have an opportunity to build on these changes for a greener and healthier future, but it’s going to take effort and planning.

It was one of the rare welcome surprises of 2020. Coronavirus restrictions have meant that cycling was up by 45 per cent in some places across the island of Ireland as people adopted more active forms of transport. Bicycle sales in 2020 increased by more than 30 per cent from the previous year new data shows, with the spike most likely related to coronavirus.  After decades of automatically heading for the car, bus or train, people had to explore other options. And they leapt at the opportunity.

This shift in behaviour seemed to get a big boost from lockdown but in fact has been gradually evolving for some years. Investment in rural greenways, such as the Waterford Greenway and the Middleton to Youghal Greenway, has paid dividends in drawing jobs and income to local areas. Moreover, the provision of safe alternative travel options is part of an expansion in sustainable alternatives to private car ownership, helping meet climate action objectives. However, integrating active travel networks in densely populated urban areas presents challenges that require continued investment, structural and educational reforms, and a combined approach by many interested parties to fully address.

“Integrating active travel networks in densely populated urban areas presents challenges that require continued investment, structural and educational reforms, and a combined approach by many interested parties to fully address.”

Increased investment in active transport infrastructure

On investment, there has been a good start: in October 2020, the Republic of Ireland (ROI) designated €360 million for active travel infrastructure to support walking and cycling. This generous allocation is part of a wider shift away from traditional destinations such as complex interurban road schemes; out of the €3.5 billion given to the Department of Transport , €1 billion was allocated to public transport projects.

The €360 million is a significant increase on previous commitments – and will contribute to the development of traffic-free greenways and local link projects which we are developing as part of our work with the dedicated Cycle Design Office (CDO). The CDO was set up in 2019 by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to design and pilot cycle projects throughout the Greater Dublin Area and regional cities that fall outside the remit of the 200km of cycle lines already being built through BusConnects, the landmark redesign of Dublin’s entire bus network. The increase in funding allocation will lead to a significant uptick in capacity and capability that should accelerate delivery, helping ROI meet its Project Ireland 2040 sustainable mobility goals.

In Northern Ireland, the Department for Infrastructure has appointed a dedicated Walking and Cycling Champion with £20 million ringfenced funding for blue/green infrastructure, promoting active travel and shaping places to live. Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon stated “In what has been a dark time for us, I want to seize the opportunity to make changes now to underpin a green recovery and improve public health now and for the future”. In doing so Minister Mallon announced the creation of the blue-green infrastructure fund to act as a catalyst for positive infrastructure and cultural change in the way that people live and travel. This resulted in an investment of £2.4 million in greenway projects across four council areas and £3.7 million in a range of interventions, including foot and cycle ways, pop-up cycle lanes, crossings and other cycle/foot infrastructure and social-distancing measures.

Furthermore, in May 2020, the UK government announced a £2 billion package covering every region in the UK targeting cycling and walking, which demonstrates the importance of active travel within UK transport strategies. This funding stream could be targeted at developments like Belfast Streets Ahead, where AECOM has been assisting in the transformation of the physical environment of Belfast city centre. By designating car-free areas and creating multi-modal transportation systems, there is potential for further improvement of active transport options and how they link with public transport networks.

Good planning will be needed to make the best use of the newly available resources, but used wisely, this investment will give opportunities to people across the island, encouraging a new approach to transport.

Focus on behavioural change and communicate the benefits

For these investments to truly have a resilient outcome, the public must continue to be informed about the advantages of active transport, as these projects require support from those who use the networks on a day-to-day basis. In London, for example, there has been a sizeable backlash against newly installed bicycle routes and the introduction of low traffic neighbourhoods, so it is vital to both communicate the logic behind these decisions and involve communities early on to get maximum buy-in. AECOM has been helping developers and authorities produce comprehensive business cases, which help demonstrate the advantages of proposals.

For example, we are currently involved in the Meadows to George Street – Places to People project, the proposed restructuring of the traffic system and streets in central Edinburgh, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The scheme includes pedestrianised streets, high quality public realm and placemaking, creating new safe cycle routes and altering the flow of traffic and public transport. It’s a complex scheme that must strike a careful balance of needs for all users and impacts on wider networks, and requires a sensitive design approach which contributes to the historic and cultural value of the area. As such, we are engaging in extensive stakeholder engagement to develop a progressive street and roads design that will help Edinburgh Council achieve its vision to create place and people focused spaces and promote active transport in the heart of the city.

Corporate buy-in is also vital, and employers can support active travel in a variety of ways. In the Docklands area of Dublin, for example, tech companies have installed 1,000 bike spaces as part of the new development. Many companies already recognise the advantages of active travel, with a survey by Transport for London showing that 72 per cent of businesses are planning to encourage employees to walk or cycle to work, or at least part way (68 per cent).

Co-operative and flexible approaches

A wide range of stakeholders will also have to work together to achieve sustainable mobility. AECOM has already developed these crucial relationships with public and private stakeholders, working on a range of projects varying from the €100,000 Cherrywood Greenway in County Dublin, which creates connectivity with existing cycle and pedestrian routes in the local area, to the £200m York Street Interchange in Belfast, which is addressing a major bottleneck on the strategic road network whilst accommodating non-motorised users through the junction.  Minister Mallon has also taken the opportunity to pause the procurement of the York Street Interchange project and we have been commissioned to identify enhancements to active travel provision and undertake a place-making study to maximise ambition for what can be delivered for communities, connectivity and the wider Living Places agenda from this important scheme.

All these projects require effective multidisciplinary transportation teams, with technology acting as a crucial enabler. For example, we have been helping planners and developers use the latest technology such as AECOM’s virtual consultation tool that provides opportunities to capture under-represented viewpoints in the consultation process.

The past months have been challenging for everyone, but a silver lining may be a permanent change to transport across the island. At first, people shifted away from public transport partly from concern over coronavirus infection rates, and partly because capacity was substantially reduced, but they have rapidly discovered the appeal of the alternatives. This shift has coincided with major financial commitments to resilient and active transport from governments in both the north and south.  Today, there is an opportunity to develop a range of exciting active travel schemes that will not only transform millions of lives for the better but also help the island of Ireland meet urgent net zero carbon goals.

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Active travel

Moderate positive impact based on uncertain evidence with low resource implications

Cite as Heneghan C, Onakpoya I. Active Transport. Oxford Healthy Cities Toolkit

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Description

Active travel, also described as active transport or transportation, is defined as making journeys that involve a level of physical exercise [UK Dept for Transport, 2022 ].

It can include walking, cycling, skating or skateboarding (to name a few) and is highly favourable when commuting to work or school. In the literature, active travel was measured using self-reported instruments, surveys or questionnaires, interviews or focus groups, accelerometry, digital tracking devices or GPS.

Fourteen reviews considered the health impacts of active transport involving nearly 500 primary studies. Overall, active travel had a positive effect on increasing rates of physical activity, reducing non-communicable diseases, and improving mental health.

Designing community environments that make active travel convenient, safe, attractive, cost-effective, and environmentally beneficial is likely to produce the greatest impact.

The included reviews represented the ages of the general population, with one review focusing on children and young people [Audrey 2015 ], and two reviews on older people [ Barnett 2017 ; Graham 2020 ].

Three reviews restricted their geographical scope, with one review from the UK [ Graham 2020 ]’ Korea [ Kim 2019 ] and Latin America [ Gomez 2015 ].

Most (85%) reviews assessed rates of physical activity and examined the relationship of the urban environment in promoting active transport. Factors that supported active travel include:

• Adequate infrastructure (e.g. cycle lanes) and connection/continuity of cyclable and walkable surfaces [ de Carvalho 2012 ; Gomez 2015 ; Mölenberg 2019 ; Rachele 2019 ; Sallis 2015 ; Smith 2017 ; Stankov 2020 ]
• Smaller and calmer car traffic, offering greater safety for cyclists and pedestrians [ de Carvalho 2012 ; Gomez 2015 ]
• Short distances of trips [de Carvalho 2012 ; Gomez 2015 ; Sallis 2015 ; Stankov 2020 ]
• Aesthetics of the streets and facilities (cleanliness, low noise, presence of trees/greenery) [ de Carvalho 2012 ; Rachele 2019 ; Sallis 2015 ]
• Mixed land use, combining residential, commercial, and leisure spaces and facilities within a concentrated area [ Gomez 2015 ; Kim 2019 ; Rachele 2019 ; Sallis 2015 ]
• The financial cost and economic benefits [ de Carvalho 2012 ; Sallis 2015 ]
• The environment and sustainable mobility [ de Carvalho 2012 ; Gomez 2015 ; Sallis 2015 ]

Factors that discouraged cycling were related to geography (e.g. weather or terrain) and individual factors (e.g. age, sex, education levels). The lack of connectivity of cycling routes, zoning and land use distribution, and low petrol prices encouraged individuals to use cars. [ de Carvalho 2012 ]

Factors that both encouraged and discouraged active travel were dependent on socio-economic conditions and economic development, which drove the adoption of public policies. [de Carvalho 2012 ]. For example, in Australia, lower economic status was a factor that reduced the use of bicycles by children attending schools, whereas, in Brazil, lower socio-economic profiles were linked to higher rates of active travel when commuting to schools. 

For children and young people, multi-component and single-component interventions deployed at schools increased students’ activity levels and reduced parental driving [ Audrey 2015 ]. Factors such as distance from home to school, infrastructure improvements (e.g. cycle lanes, calming traffic schemes), education, and non-car use at baseline influenced active travel. 

For older adults, neighbourhood walkability, access to destinations and services and recreational facilities, crime/personal safety, residential density, walk-friendly infrastructure, street lighting, the presence of greenery and aesthetically pleasing scenery were positively associated with physical activity and walking. [ Barnett 2017 ; Rachele 2019 ]. In the UK, cost, availability, connectivity and infrastructure, such as benches and bus shelters, were crucial in enabling active travel among elderly individuals [ Graham 2020 ].

One review identified positive effects for people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer, and dementia, as well as all-cause mortality and the incidence of overweight and obesity [Xia 2013 ].

One review focused on mental health and found that people who actively commuted to work (cycling/walking) reported improved mental health outcomes, but this effect was reduced after baseline mental health was accounted for [Moore 2018 ].

One review examined policies to promote active travel, which found that infrastructure is at the core of promoting active travel, but policies may work best when implemented in comprehensive packages [ Winters 2017 ].

Strength of the evidence

Strength of the evidence 

Three reviews used a tool to assess the risk of bias or quality, which had moderate [ Barnett 2017 ], low [Moore 2018 ] and very low-quality evidence [ Audrey 2015 ].

The remaining 11 reviews were ranked uncertain, giving an overall rating of uncertain evidence.

Despite the uncertainty in the quality of the evidence, action should not be postponed until stronger evidence is developed, as the health, environmental, and economic benefits of active travel are clear.

Searches for evidence were conducted between 2010 and 2019 in a median of six databases. Ten of the included studies were formal systematic reviews (two with meta-analyses, one using mixed methods, and one with qualitative studies), three were literature reviews, and one was an overview of systematic reviews. 

Resource Implications

Resource Implications 

Resource implications were graded low because of the extent of the co-benefits afforded by active travel. In addition to positive health outcomes, reviews reported the economic and environmental benefits, including reducing traffic congestion, accidents, and air and noise pollution [ Graham 2020 ; Sallis 2015 ; Smith 2017 ; Winters 2017 ; Xia 2013 ].

One review estimated the combined economic benefit of eliminating short motor vehicle trips in 11 metropolitan areas in the upper mid-western USS to exceed $8 billion/year [ Xia 2013 ].

Micro-level interventions that increase attractiveness and convenience for active travel are low-cost and easier to implement than macro-level interventions for street design and layout [ Barnett 2017 ; Winters 2017 )].

The rising costs of car transport and petrol prices have reportedly increased the uptake of active travel [ de Carvalho 2012 ; Mölenberg 2019 ]. The implementation of economic incentives, such as congestion and parking fees, was found to promote active travel and significantly improve health [Stankov 2020 ].

Recommendations

• Increase investment in infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists to promote active travel.
• Use interdisciplinary teams involving those from the transport, planning, public health, and policy sectors should embrace opportunities to implement and evaluate active transport interventions.
• Invest in high-quality research, adjusting for residential self-selection, conceptually-driven choosing of built environmental attributes, and adjusting for key socio-demographic covariates.
• Research is needed to identify the optimal density threshold that supports active travel, which is important for informing planning policy and practice. 

Related Resources

Related sources 

• WHO (2018): Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 – More Active People for a Healthier World
• WHO (2020): Physical activity  
• UK Department for Transport (2022): Active Travel – Local authority toolkit (guidance)
• UK Department for Transport (2020): Cycling and walking plan for England (policy paper)
• UK Department for Transports (2019): Future of Mobility – urban strategy (policy paper)
• Public Health England (2016): Active travel – a briefing for local authorities  
• Healthy Places by Design (2001-2008): Active Living by Design
• Sustrans (2017): Active Travel Toolbox 
• Open Streets Project
• Active Living Research: Tools and Resources
• Living Streets: UK Charity for Everyday Walking
• Choose how you move: A smarter way to travel in Leicester and Leicestershire
• Transport Scotland: Walking and cycling
• Imperial College London: Active travel 
• National Walk to Work Day: UK Public Health Network

References to Reviews

References of Reviews

Audrey 2015. Healthy urban environments for children and young people: A systematic review of intervention studies. Health & place 36: 97–117.

Barnett 2017. Built environmental correlates of older adults’ total physical activity and walking: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity 14(1): 103.

de Carvalho 2012. Cycling to achieve healthy and sustainable alternatives . Ciencia & saude coletiva 17(6): 1617–1628.

Gomez 2015. Urban environment interventions linked to the promotion of physical activity: a mixed methods study applied to the urban context of Latin America. Social science & medicine 131: 18–30.

Graham 2020. Older people’s experiences of everyday travel in the urban environment: a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies in the United Kingdom. Ageing & Society 40(4). Cambridge University Press: 842–868.

Kim 2019. How Does the Built Environment in Compact Metropolitan Cities Affect Health? A Systematic Review of Korean Studies. International journal of environmental research and public health 16(16). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16162921 .

Mölenberg 2019. A systematic review of the effect of infrastructural interventions to promote cycling: strengthening causal inference from observational data. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity 16(1): 93.

Moore 2018. The effects of changes to the built environment on the mental health and well-being of adults: Systematic review. Health & place 53: 237–257.

Rachele 2019. Neighbourhood built environment and physical function among mid-to-older aged adults: A systematic review. Health & place 58: 102137.

Sallis 2015. Co-benefits of designing communities for active living: an exploration of literature. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity 12: 30.

Smith 2017. Systematic literature review of built environment effects on physical activity and active transport – an update and new findings on health equity. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity 14(1): 158.

Stankov 2020. A systematic review of empirical and simulation studies evaluating the health impact of transportation interventions. Environmental research 186: 109519.

Winters 2017. Policies to Promote Active Travel: Evidence from Reviews of the Literature. Current environmental health reports 4(3): 278–285.

Xia 2013. Co-benefits of replacing car trips with alternative transportation: a review of evidence and methodological issues. Journal of environmental and public health 2013: 797312.

Age-Friendly World

Evidence review – barriers and enablers to active travel.

This report summarises the findings of our work on active travel and, for the first time, sets out the factors that govern active travel behaviours in people aged 50 to 70. Active travel – making day-to-day journeys by walking or cycling – is an effective way of bringing more physical activity into our everyday lives. Increasing our physical activity levels will make us healthier and help us to lead longer and more independent lives. However, levels of physical activity and of active travel drop off rapidly with age and it’s essential that we target people in mid-life to address this decline. We translate the findings into practical measures that local authorities can take.

https://ageing-better.org.uk/resources/active-travel-and-mid-life

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ActiveScore Certification is the definitive accreditation for active travel offerings in real estate. We assess and rate buildings using a transparent, scientific methodology developed in partnership with urban planners and experts from the bicycling and active travel industry. An ActiveScore rating clearly communicates your building’s future-proofed credentials to prospective tenants, partners and users.

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Our methodology measures three aspects of Active Travel

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What physical facilities does your building have? These include bike racks, clothing lockers, showers and way-finding. Can tenants access the facilities freely and easily?

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What Active Travel services are available for the people in your building? This includes bike servicing, laundry services and Active Travel user groups.

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Does your building have a strategy for Ative Travel expansion? Can your tenants be confident that their building is as future-proof as possible?

Health and Well-being

ActiveScore originated from a need within real estate. After meetings with several leading landlords, developers & agents, we learned that health and well-being facilities mattered almost as much to users as rent and internet connectivity.​

Buildings without active travel facilities do not appeal to contemporary audiences.​ Premises with considered amenities are particularly attractive to people working in media, design, advertising and civil services. And when it comes to flexible workspaces, active travel offerings goes hand-in-hand with other wellness services.​

Attract and Retain Tenants

ActiveScore certification assures both landlords and tenants that their building has reached a certain standard. For real estate agents and brokers, it communicates the benefits of an asset in a clear and repeatable way. ​ Until recently, transparent and reliable information on active travel offering has not been available. That’s where we come in – an ActiveScore rating is the first step towards a happy and healthy working environment, one that attracts and retains tenants.

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ActiveScore certification can help your business or building meet its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets.​ Tenants who actively travel to work will help reduce the environmental impact of your building. We can help measure this using our Clean Air Calculator. Fewer people using automobiles is good for our cities and good for the planet.

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• Cycling and walking

£200 million to improve walking and cycling routes and boost local economies

New fund to help local authorities make improvements that enable more people to choose active travel.

• millions of people in England will benefit from improved walking, wheeling and cycling routes thanks to a £200 million government fund
• funding will improve crossings and junctions to increase safety, in consultation with local residents and businesses
• investment in active travel will grow the economy by improving transport links, boosting high streets and creating skilled jobs

Schools, high streets and main roads will benefit from improved crossings and junctions to support walking and cycling, reduce emissions and boost local economies, thanks to a £200 million fund announced today (6 February 2023).

Active Travel England is today inviting local authorities in England to apply for funding to make improvements to enable people to choose active travel, which can help them save money and stay healthy. Schemes could include:

• creating more paths in rural areas
• developing safer routes for children to walk to school
• improved safety at junctions for people walking and cycling

Funding will also be used to support people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters by making street designs more inclusive.

Projects will be designed in consultation with residents and businesses to ensure schemes are safe and work for local communities. The successful projects will be announced later this year. Guidance has been created to help local authorities develop active travel schemes that are well-designed and completed to a high standard.

Walking and cycling charity Sustrans has estimated that active travel generated £36.5 billion for the economy in 2021 through increased spending on high streets, reduced pressure on the NHS and better access to jobs. This investment could also generate up to 16 million additional walking and cycling trips a year.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

This £200 million investment for hundreds of upgraded routes and paths across the country will help to reduce emissions, boost local economies and create jobs. These new schemes will make it safer for children to walk to school and will better connect rural communities, helping more people choose active travel as an affordable and healthy way to get around.

Previous funding rounds saw a new cycle lane built in Coventry which generated 10,000 trips in its first month and a new walking and cycling route in Manchester, where people travelling on foot and by bike are separated from motor vehicles.

Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:

Active travel is convenient, cheap, low carbon and health-giving. It’s a choice we need to make sure everyone has. Sometimes it only takes relatively small changes, such as crossings on school routes or convenient places to park a bike, to give us the option to walk, wheel or ride. Our job is to help local authorities across the country ensure that everyone has more attractive options for their daily trips and we are excited to help them deliver those options.

The funding could see more young people choosing a healthier and greener way to travel from home to the classroom. With less than half of children aged 5 to 16 walking or cycling to school, this investment aims to boost uptake. The government’s objective is to enable 55% of all primary school children to walk to school by 2025.

Studies show that 1 in 2 women feel unsafe walking after dark in a quiet street near their home. Local authorities will also need to show that their proposed schemes take women’s safety into account.

Head of Communications, Active Travel England

Email [email protected]

Media enquiries 020 7082 6603

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Behaviour Change and Active Travel

Fingal County Council have commissioned us to conduct research on how active travel infrastructure can best lead to behaviour change. Work on this project began in Summer 2022, with a review of the international literature on how to design active travel infrastructure with a view to maximising uptake. Future work will involve behaviourally-informing infrastructure and recording use.

Shane Timmons

Ylva Andersson

Féidhlim McGowan

© 2019

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Council approves active travel scheme investment

A plan to encourage active and sustainable transport within a city has been approved.

Peterborough City Council approved the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the next ten years.

The plan outlines how investments will be made to improve cycling and walking routes.

Councillor Mohammed Jamil, Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said the plan will have a “positive impact” on the city’s environment.

The LCWIP has been compiled following input from the council’s cycling and walking task and finish group, the climate change and environment scrutiny committee, and the cabinet.

It will also put the council in a better position to bid for active travel schemes in the future, building on the current funding that has already been secured which includes around £3m for a new cycleway on Thorpe Wood.

The funding also includes nearly £1m to design cycleways along sections of Oundle Road, Thorpe Road and adjacent to Bourges Boulevard.

Mr Jamil said: “The LCWIP will have positive impacts on the environment as it will enable people to travel via active and sustainable modes in the future, tying in with our work to reduce carbon emissions.

“We are committed to providing quality walking and cycling routes, which will enable more people to travel to work, education or for leisure in a sustainable way.”

Other major schemes where active travel is a major component include the £48m Peterborough Station Quarter and around £400k of revenue grant for feasibility and early design options to help develop the 16 cycling routes.

Follow Peterborough news on Facebook , Instagram and X . Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830

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Active travel is a government initiative focusing on getting more people to walk and cycle for short journeys instead of relying on public transport.

This is a way of improving the health and fitness of communities across the country and improving air quality by reducing congestion and carbon emissions in urban areas.

As an active travel surfacing business, we contribute to increasing active travel in your local area by making walking and cycling more accessible.

We do this by offering more walk paths and cycling routes in regions to encourage people to take the natural choice for their everyday journeys.

Our company works alongside many local authorities, including schools, businesses, and leisure facilities and across the UK.

With so many benefits coming from active travel, we want to make walking and cycling more accessible in all communities so people can become healthier and happier at home.

By increasing levels of accessible paths and cycle routes, we can contribute to healthier communities in towns across the nation and are available for a range of services.

If you are interested in the work we do, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today to learn more.

ENQUIRE TODAY

Why Use Us?

We are an accredited active travel surface installer business that has completed all the necessary training to work in communities across the country.

Our team has a range of certifications, including CHAS and ConstructionLine verification ensuring the highest standard of work every time.

We have been working in this field for over ten years and, in recent years, have joined the Active Travel initiative to improve towns across the UK.

With this many years of experience, our team understands how active travel can improve any local area, which informs our work.

We can work in any environment, from towns to cities and beyond, to support the needs of the local people in terms of active travel solutions.

Our company remains competitive on pricing for our services, allowing us to deliver Active Travel to all regions.

We have a great relationship with suppliers in this industry and work with local manufacturing to provide an affordable service across the country.

Active Travel demonstrates the importance of a healthy lifestyle for all, which is why we strive to make walking and cycling accessible everywhere.

With our competitive prices, expert installer team, and local connections, we can improve towns and cities in all regions.

What is Active Travel?

Active Travel is an initiative that focuses on reducing congestion, carbon emission, and health issues and all regions across the UK and on increasing active travel, such as walking and cycling.

With walkways and cycling routes, we aim to encourage people to ditch public transport and their cars for healthier movement during their everyday journeys.

When it is easier to travel around your local area by foot or bike, we can reduce the number of car journeys and the demand for public transport.

Not only does active travel improve your health, but it can also drastically reduce carbon emissions in any area. You can improve your health and the environment by opting for walking and cycling instead of going by car.

As a surfacing company, we are working as part of the Active Travel plan to make walking and cycling more accessible in all regions. We create walkways, cycling routes, and path infrastructure for wheelchair users to encourage people to get outdoors.

It is easier to walk or cycle when there are spaces in your community for this, which is where we come in.

We aim to deliver great service to all our clients and want to make it easier for people to get to school, the shops or simply around the town without using public transport or their car.

As well as making walking and cycling easier for everyone, the Active Travel initiative educates people in business, children in schools, and other community members regarding the importance of active travel for both health and the environment.

We are committed to making a healthy and safe place for everyone, so we offer Active Travel, walking and cycling infrastructure installation nationwide.

What are Examples of Active Travel?

Active travel refers to modes of transportation that involve physical activity, typically walking and cycling, as the primary means of getting from one place to another. Here are some examples of active travel:

Walking: Walking is one of the most common forms of active travel. It includes walking for various purposes, such as commuting to work, going to school, running errands, or simply taking a leisurely stroll.

Cycling: Cycling involves riding bicycles for transportation. People use bicycles for commuting, recreational rides, and even for errands. Bicycle-sharing programs have made cycling more accessible in many urban areas.

Jogging and Running: While primarily seen as a form of exercise, jogging and running can also be modes of active travel, particularly for shorter trips or when individuals choose to run instead of walk for transportation.

Skating: Inline skating, rollerblading, and skateboarding are alternative forms of active travel for those who are comfortable with these activities. They are often used for shorter trips within neighbourhoods or on designated paths.

Scooter Riding: Electric scooters and kick scooters have gained popularity as a mode of active travel in many urban areas. Users can rent scooters to travel short distances.

Public Transportation Combined with Walking/Cycling: Active travel doesn't necessarily mean exclusively walking or cycling. Many people use public transportation (buses, trains, subways) and combine it with walking or cycling for the first and last legs of their journeys.

Benefits of Active Travel

Opting to walk or cycle around your area instead of using public transport can offer many benefits , including the following:

Reduced congestion, even in high-traffic areas

Reduced air pollution

Higher-quality public areas, which are made for walking and cycling

Better physical, mental and social health in all towns

Reduced carbon emissions which can help reach carbon-zero goals nationally

Increased economic growth in all regions

Better communities with reduced inequality, as active travel is wheelchair user-friendly and suitable for everyone.

People can benefit greatly from getting active by walking and cycling more frequently. By reducing our reliance on the car and public transport for journeys, we can also contribute to a safer environment.

Our company contributes to Active Travel by creating bike paths and safe walking routes in all regions, making it easier for people to opt for these methods of transport for all their journeys.

The cycling or walking infrastructure we create will support active travel in these areas for many years, benefiting local adults and children and the environment as a whole.

Surfacing for Active Travel

We can offer various surfacing on any active travel scheme to make cycling and walking easier.

Our infrastructure installation supports active travel methods like cycling, and we can provide various surfacing solutions to suit all needs. These are some of the surfacing solutions we use for active travel:

Wetpour is a great option for cycling and walking as it is a common safety surface. Wet pour can be used on all kinds of infrastructure to create a durable path that can support walking and bike rides for people of all ages.

Rubber mulch is a biodegradable infrastructure that is commonly found in parks, children's play areas, and similar spaces. This is ideal for walking spaces and can improve the environment using natural resources.

Rhino Pave surfacing is used for walking and cycling journeys, this is another common safety surface commonly found in infrastructure like schools or playgrounds. This is made using rubber granules for additional bounce and durability.

Resin bound gravel is a decorative stone surfacing which is commonly installed on pathways and cycle routes.

Resin bound gravel is made using resin particles, this surfacing is versatile and supports walking and cycling.

Commonly found in sports facilities, artificial grass creates a natural appearance without the demand for resources. This can be installed in multiple locations for cycle paths and walking routes.

High Durability Paint

We use high-quality paint to mark these zones to indicate where a cycling or walking path is.

We can offer a range of colours to improve the appearance of local areas and ensure that these areas are signposted clearly.

Thermoplastic markings can also be used to indicate a cycling or walking route, as well as to make fun games for children.

Several funding options are in place to support Active Travel solutions in places of business. Contact us to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the active travel scheme in the uk.

The active travel scheme in the UK typically refers to initiatives and programs aimed at promoting and encouraging sustainable modes of transportation, such as walking and cycling.

These schemes are part of the UK government's efforts to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and promote healthier lifestyles.

Some of the key components of the active travel scheme in the UK include:

Cycling Infrastructure: The government invests in the development of cycling infrastructure, including dedicated bike lanes, bike-sharing programs, and secure bike storage facilities.

Walking Initiatives: Efforts are made to create pedestrian-friendly environments with improved sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and safer walking routes.

Funding for Local Authorities: The government provides funding to local authorities for active travel projects, allowing them to implement measures that encourage walking and cycling.

Public Awareness Campaigns: Public awareness campaigns promote the benefits of active travel and encourage people to choose walking and cycling for short journeys.

School Travel: Programs are designed to encourage schoolchildren to walk or cycle to school, reducing car journeys and promoting healthy habits.

Legislation and Policies: The UK government has introduced policies and legislation to support active travel, such as the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) and the Highway Code updates to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Low Traffic Neighborhoods: The creation of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) aims to reduce through traffic on residential streets, making them safer and more pleasant for walking and cycling.

Funding for Active Travel Infrastructure: Investment is made in building infrastructure that encourages active travel, such as cycleways, footpaths, and greenways.

Local authorities often play a significant role in implementing active travel projects tailored to the needs and priorities of their communities.

For the most up-to-date information on active travel schemes in the UK, you can refer to the official websites of the UK government, the Department for Transport (DfT), and local authorities in specific regions or cities.

What is an Active Travel Path?

An active travel path, also known as an active travel route or active transportation path, is a designated pathway or route designed to facilitate and encourage non-motorized forms of transportation, primarily walking and cycling.

These paths are intended to promote physical activity, reduce dependence on motorized vehicles, improve public health, and create sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation options.

Get In Touch

Active travel is a great opportunity for people to go on walks or cycle around their local areas.

If you are a business or local authority interested in making this happen, do not hesitate to contact us today to see how we can help.

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Roadside Hotels Expect Boom From Infrastructure and AI Spending

Sean O'Neill , Skift

July 15th, 2024 at 2:53 PM EDT

Blue-collar workers need more places to sleep while traveling for jobs. That's because the U.S. government wants to fix bridges and other infrastructure, while Amazon and other tech giants want to build data centers to support AI usage. Hotel companies stand to gain.

Sean O'Neill

Hotel companies continue to gear up for a surge in demand from workers wearing hardhats as more than $1 trillion in public and private infrastructure spending is set to fuel years of U.S. construction projects.

An expected influx of traveling workers is reshaping the maps where hotel groups plan to open properties. To capitalize on this trend, some hotel groups have added extended-stay and budget brands.

Driving the news:

• Federal spending In August 2022, the U.S. set aside about $1 trillion over a decade to spend on fixing bridges, roads, and dams. So far, only 4% of infrastructure money has been spent, according to Wyndham executives.
• Tech-giant spending : Amazon Web Services , a brand that manages Amazon’s cloud business, plans to invest about $100 billion in opening data centers over the next 10 years.
• AI-driven spending : Another piece of recent federal legislation, the Chips Act, is credited with kickstarting an investment boom . U.S. and foreign manufacturers have unveiled plans to build dozens of chip factories and supporting facilities that may be worth more than $220 billion in investment , according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Hotel groups may benefit

Major hotel chains already report increased bookings from construction crews and other workers — a trend they expect to accelerate.

• Wyndham, Choice Hotels, and BWH Group (the company behind Best Western) are particularly well-positioned, with thousands of properties near highway exits that could be close to construction sites.
• These companies are actively courting construction and logistics firms through corporate booking channels.
• Wyndham last week opened its first property in its Echo Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham brand. On its first day, two guests checked in with reservations set to last for seven months. The hotel group calls it its fastest-growing new brand, with 270 properties in the pipeline after a year-and-a-half of marketing it to owners.
• The impact of infrastructure spending has a roughly $150 million incremental royalty value to Wyndham every year, according to a report by Truist Securities analysts Patrick Scholes and Gregory Miller. To put that in context, analysts covering Wyndham forecast that its fee revenues this year will be about $550 million.
• BWH’s newest brand, @HOME by Best Western, aims to appeal to some infrastructure spending as a midscale extended-stay product . The brand has more than 40 new-build hotels in the pipeline.

What they’re saying

• “If we look at extended-stay occupancy, it’s up 12 points higher year-to-date than the rest of the industry,” said Wyndham president and CEO Geoff Ballotti in a CNBC interview on July 10.
• “This surge is real,” said Choice Hotels CEO Pat Pacious, noting expansion in “middle class, small business, construction, logistics” verticals.
• Choice Hotels has seen an over 50% jump in workforce travel accounts it services since 2019.

Between the lines

This shift is leading hotel groups to adapt their offerings.

• Steps include adjusting meal service times to accommodate night-shift workers.
• Keeping amenities simple to reduce the minutes needed for housekeepers to clean guestrooms, containing a labor cost for hotel operators.

What to watch

• Roughly a third of the construction pipeline for hotels in the U.S. is extended-stay projects, or roughly 30% of planned rooms, according to  Lodging Econometrics .
• Today demand exceeds supply growth by about 1.5 to 1 , estimated The Highland Group.
• It’s uncertain whether the surge in infrastructure spending will lead to lasting growth. Some hotel group executives have said these hotels will not dry up on demand after infrastructure projects in the local markets are complete and that the infrastructure spend would not be impacted even if there is new administration in the White House. But it’s unknown if their predictions will come true.
• Hotel companies will likely continue expanding their extended-stay and premium economy brands to capture this growing market segment.
• Attendees of the Skift Global Forum in New York City in September will hear Wyndham president and CEO Geoff Ballotti speak more in detail on this opportunity for the hotel sector.

Accommodations Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date

What am I looking at?  The performance of hotels and short-term rental sector stocks within the  ST200 . The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets, including international and regional hotel brands, hotel REITs, hotel management companies, alternative accommodations, and timeshares.

The Skift Travel 200 (ST200)  combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more hotels and short-term rental financial sector performance.

Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Photo credit: Wyndham executives and local officials celebrate the grand opening of the first ECHO Suites in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in July 2024. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts