Active Travel

Cycling UK is a cycling charity, which runs a range of projects, groups and programmes across Scotland to support more people to cycle regularly for transport, leisure and adventure. It offers a range of cycling related services to support the wider cycling community including cycling insurance, training courses, planning to run an event or charity bike ride and Cycle Friendly Employer accreditation.

Paths for All is a Scottish charity promoting walking for everyone, everyday and everywhere. It works with local authorities and communities to develop inclusive environments for everyone to be active, including walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users. It supports projects that increase use of sustainable transport and build capacity within communities. It champions the creation of walkable environments with access to quality greenspaces, close to where people live, so being active is easy for everyone.

Nationally recognised programme provides an award scheme and funding to help organisations make it easier for their staff to cycle to work and at work.

The Active Travel Hub Network is a resource centre for active travel hubs in Scotland. The mission is to get more people walking, cycling, wheeling and using public transport as part of their daily lifestyle. The Network delivers a range of online webinars and training opportunities. These are shared through in-person learning events, live webinars, and in the dedicated members area of the Hub Portal. This Active Travel Hub Network portal is funded by Transport Scotland and Forth Environment Link.

This guidance outlines a comprehensive set of steps in the development of an Active Travel Strategy. Includes guidance on scoping, understanding communities and benchmarking, analysis and planning, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation. Transport Scotland, Scottish Government 2023

Public health guideline [PH41]. This guideline covers encouraging people to increase the amount they walk or cycle for travel or recreation purposes. This guideline includes recommendations on: policy and planning; local programmes; and schools, workplaces and the NHS. Who is it for? Commissioners, managers and practitioners and members of the public. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Published: 2012, Updated 2019

Paths for All is a Scottish charity promoting walking for everyone, everyday and everywhere. It works with local authorities and communities to develop inclusive environments for everyone to be active, including walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users. It supports projects that increase use of sustainable transport and build capacity within communities. It champions the creation of walkable environments with access to quality greenspaces, close to where people live, so being active is easy for everyone.

Active Travel Hubs provide information, engagement opportunities and facilities with the aim to encourage local communities and visitors to travel more actively. They have proven to be a successful model to engage with local communities, workplaces and further education establishments. The hubs are managed and funded by a range of partners, with some attracting funding from the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme.

The Walk at Work Award is an accreditation scheme for Scottish employers, recognising organisations that support staff to be active in and around the working day. The programme helps workplaces with the know-how to foster a walking culture that encourages and supports physical activity at work. To help achieve the award, Paths for All provide guidance on planning projects, developing activities, improving facilities and signposting to resources. The programme helps staff plan safe and easy walking routes to work or to and from local public transport, to walking challenges and incentive scheme.

The Step Count Challenge is a walking challenge for Scottish workplaces. It is interactive, fun and gets staff moving more, sitting less whilst boosting morale and supporting health and wellbeing. You can use it to promote the benefits of walking and healthy living, active travel and reducing car use for short journeys. Teams can access leaderboards, goal setting and team chat to keep staff motivated and connected. Teams will receive tailored support and advice on everything from creating an action plan, motivating teams, effective communications to evaluating the impact of the challenge.

The Framework sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030 and an ambitious long term goal where no one is seriously injured or killed on our roads by 2050. Transport Scotland, Scottish Government 2021

The Scottish Government has published a new plan to increase everyday cycling across the country. The framework supports the 2030 Active Travel Vision – where walking, wheeling and cycling is the most popular mode of transport for shorter everyday journeys. It will shape how government, councils and active travel organisations deliver improvements. Transport Scotland, Scottish Government 2023

The Walking and Cycling Index, created by Sustrans, is the biggest-ever survey of walking, wheeling and cycling across 23 cities in the UK and Ireland. The Walking and Cycling Index supports leaders of cities and towns to understand and improve active travel in their areas. It provides high-quality evidence to help bring our neighbourhoods back to life and ensure walking and cycling are attractive and accessible for everyone. Sustrans 2024

This report presents transport and travel findings from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2020 telephone survey. The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is an annual survey carried out since 1999. It collects data on mode of travel to work and distance travelled and publishes it as part of reporting on the National Performance Framework Indicator on Active Travel. Transport Scotland, Scottish Government 2022

This report presents baseline (2019) data on the indicators included in the Active Travel Framework. Where available, it includes previous trends too. The report uses secondary data, which comes from a variety of sources. As such, the extent and quality of information varies between indicators. Transport Scotland, Scottish Government 2022

The Cycle Ride Leader award is a one day training course designed to provide an introduction to leading groups on risk assessed and organised bike rides during daylight hours. It enables leaders to plan and organise rides within an organisation, community group or club.

This is an interactive and practical one day course which will help you get colleagues walking more in and around the working day. This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to develop and deliver a successful workplace walking initiative. We’ll provide you with ideas on how you can promote workplace walking from active travel to lunchtime walks, pedometer challenges to walking meetings and more.

The Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) has drawn together its learning on transport and health, with a specific focus on active travel. This report emphasises the importance recognising and addressing the barriers to increasing active travel through the introduction of behavioural interventions alongside clear and a consistent vision, strong leadership, adequate investment, supportive policy, and planning and infrastructure developments. Glasgow Centre for Population Health 2017

Research conducted by Glasgow Centre for Population Health provides further evidence to show health economic value of active commuting in Scotland. This study provides clear evidence of the substantial health and economic benefits that active commuting makes at a population level. These findings support the case for further investment to increase levels of walking and cycling. Glasgow Centre for Population Health 2021

Walkipedia signposts users to the key sources of information and evidence relating to walking, pedestrians, and active travel. It provides quick access to relevant legislation, policies, strategies, guidance, research websites and statistics as well as to organisations, detailing their programmes, initiatives and toolkits that have been developed. Paths for All and Living Streets Scotland have developed this with practitioners in mind and to those developing and designing, implementing, managing, promoting and evaluating walking initiatives and infrastructure.

This 3-part Series explores how integrated multisector city planning, including urban design and transport planning, can be used as an important and currently underused force for health and wellbeing within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Lancet 2016

The National Walking Strategy outlines the vision of a Scotland where everyone benefits from walking. This Action Plan is a high level plan that has been developed to assist in the delivery of Let’s Get Scotland Walking. This Delivery Plan sets out how the actions to achieve shared outcomes align with the objectives set out in the WHO Global Action Plan for Physical Activity. Scottish Government 2019

Plan setting out actions that The Scottish Government and partners are undertaking, working together to encourage and support people in Scotland to be more active, more often. Scottish Government 2018

Brings together the key policy approaches to improving the uptake of walking and cycling in Scotland for travel. It has been produced collaboratively by Transport Scotland and key delivery partners, with input from Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) and local authorities. Transport Scotland 2020

The International Society for Physical Activity and Health provides an overview of best evidence which can be used to advocate, inform and lead physical activity policy and discussion. A call to action for everyone, everywhere, including professionals, academics, civil society and decision makers, to embed physical activity in national and subnational policies. International Society for Physical Activity and Health 2020

An evidence-based systems-wide approach to increasing levels of physical activity in Scotland for policy makers and practitioners. Includes a wide range of actions across multiple sectors and settings which will allow the necessary changes to be made to help get more people moving actively and lead to more positive health outcomes. Public Health Scotland 2022

Health and factors relating to health of people living in Scotland. Findings on activity levels and muscle strengthening activity among adults. Breakdown on adult physical activity by Scottish Index of Multiple deprivation Index (SIMD. The Scottish Government 2022

A group of researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that walking rates in Scotland has increased over the last decade, reported in a study published by the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.

A series of blogs providing practical information and tips on all you need to walk or cycle more. Includes a wide range of topics including ‘overcoming the barriers of cycling with a disability’, and ‘walking and cycling with cancer’.

Cycling Scotland is Scotland’s national cycling charity. Working with others, we get more people cycling, more safely and easily in a better environment. Cycling Scotland provides funding and support for organisations working to help their staff to cycle to and at work.

Sustrans Scotland provides advice, support and funding that makes it easier for people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys. Sustrans deliver a wide range of programmes in Scotland. From large scale infrastructure projects to working with communities, workplaces and schools, take a look at their tools and guides to put you in the saddle.

A series of blogs providing practical information and tips on all you need to walk or cycle more. Includes a wide range of topics including ‘overcoming the barriers of cycling with a disability’, and ‘walking and cycling with cancer’.

The National Cycle Network is a UK-wide network of signed paths and routes for walking, wheeling, cycling and exploring outdoors. Download free guides to easy, traffic-free trails on the National Cycle Network.

Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, this programme aims to take action for on-street improvements to make it easier to keep active and stay connected through walking, and on projects to encourage and support everyday walking in later life.

Community Active Travel Support Service (CATSS) has been developed to help third sector organisations encourage walking, wheeling and cycling in marginalised communities. The programme also assists projects aimed at a specific group which experiences inequality. Third sector organisations receive support to set up / develop initiatives that will encourage more people in their community to walk, wheel or cycle more. Organisations taking part will also be able to access free training in skills such as fundraising, community engagement, and evaluation to develop the capacity of their organisation.

Sustrans Scotland provides advice, support and funding that makes it easier for people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys. Sustrans deliver a wide range of programmes in Scotland. From large scale infrastructure projects to working with communities, workplaces and schools, take a look at their programmes across Scotland.

The Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) programme is a grant scheme to support and encourage more people to reduce their car use in favour of more sustainable alternatives such as walking, cycling and public transport. The programme is funded through Transport Scotland and consists of three funding strands: - Open Fund - Local Authority Fund - Capability Fund. Some of the projects supported include free maps with walking and cycle routes, personal travel planning, public events, marketing, free bike repair and financial incentives to use public transport.

This plan sets out the path to a low carbon economy while helping to deliver sustainable economic growth and secure the wider benefits to a greener, fairer and healthier Scotland in 2032. Scottish Government 2018

The National Transport Strategy sets out an ambitious vision for Scotland’s transport system for the next 20 years. The vision is underpinned by four priorities: Reduces Inequalities, Takes Climate Action, Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth and Improves our Health and Wellbeing, each with three associated outcomes. Transport Scotland, Scottish Government 2020

Cycling Scotland is Scotland’s national cycling charity. Working with others, we get more people cycling, more safely and easily in a better environment. Cycling Scotland provides funding and support for organisations working to help their staff to cycle to and at work.

The evidence set out in this rapid evidence review will help make the case for appropriate levels of funding for further active travel interventions. Public Health England 2018

This course is intended for local authority staff, transport planning consultants and contractors working in the design of highway infrastructure. This course provides delegates with the information and skills to develop designs for walking and cycling infrastructure within the UK regulatory framework. The course takes place over four days and is awarded 24 CPD hours.

Cycling Scotland is Scotland’s national cycling charity. Working with others, we get more people cycling, more safely and easily in a better environment. Cycling Scotland provides funding and support for organisations working to help their staff to cycle to and at work.

Cycling UK is a cycling charity, which runs a range of projects, groups and programmes across Scotland to support more people to cycle regularly for transport, leisure and adventure. It offers a range of cycling related services to support the wider cycling community including cycling insurance, training courses, planning to run an event or charity bike ride and Cycle Friendly Employer accreditation.

Street Design in Scotland is an award-winning design and engagement service Funded by the Scottish Government, Sustrans Scotland’s Street Design Programme. The scheme is open to local authorities, constituted community groups, other public agencies and statutory bodies and aims to empower communities to transform their neighbourhoods and urban spaces to support walking, cycling and wheeling.

Places for Everyone is an infrastructure fund for Scotland funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and is administered by Sustrans. Community Groups and Development Trusts can receive funding and expertise to manage infrastructure, design and construction to help deliver walking wheeling and cycling infrastructure improvements. The aim of Places for Everyone is to create safer, more attractive, healthier, and inclusive places which are enjoyed equitably by increasing and diversifying the number of trips made by walking, wheeling or cycling for everyday journeys.

Sustrans Scotland provides advice, support and funding that makes it easier for people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys. Sustrans deliver a wide range of programmes in Scotland. From large scale infrastructure projects to working with communities, workplaces and schools, take a look at their programmes across Scotland.

The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a long term plan for Scotland that sets out where development and infrastructure is needed. A long term plan looking to 2045 that guides spatial development, sets out national planning policies, designates national developments and highlights regional spatial priorities. It is part of the development plan, and so influences planning decisions across Scotland. Scottish Government 2023

The National Performance Framework sets out a vision for national wellbeing in Scotland – it is Scotland's wellbeing framework. It sets an overall purpose and vision for Scotland. It highlights the broad National Outcomes that support the purpose and measures how well Scotland is progressing towards those outcomes. Scottish Government 2018