Active travel

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/HS119

Overview

Active travel describes everyday ‘journeys for a purpose’ made by walking, wheeling, or cycling.[1][2][3] There are a range of benefits of active travel including improved public health and air quality, increased road safety, better street life, and reduced carbon emissions.

The Department for Transport has set out four objectives for the Active Travel Fund being delivered by Active Travel England: increasing the percentage of short journeys in towns and cities that are walked or cycled; increase people’s annual walking activity; double rates of cycling; and increase the percentage of children aged 5 to 10 who usually walk to school.[4][5][6]

Due to the low number of contributions to the horizon scan on this subject, and given overlap with other articles in this category, POST has not drafted an article for this topic. Instead, the main opportunities and challenges identified by contributors are briefly summarised below:

• Active travel constitutes a benefit to both individuals and society, mostly because of positive health outcomes through raising physical activity at a population level.[7][8][9] Different transport modes have different health costs and benefits.
• Transport inclusion for older adults aims to establish an age-friendly transport system.[10] As the population ages, more individuals who have previously had the convenience of a private car will no longer be able to drive. Contributors suggested encouraging active travel post-retirement will provide alternatives to facilitate this transition and improve social and economic outcomes in later life through maintenance of independent lifestyles for longer.[11][12][13][14]
• A systems approach to developing greener, healthier and more pleasant modes of travel. Evidence suggests that social and behavioural interventions have little impact on their own.[15] This would involve designing and planning transport infrastructure to deliver safer and more inclusive travel, providing the motivation to make active-travel choices.[16][17][18][19][20][21] For example, bike-share schemes and well-integrated cycleways can encourage greater cycling.[22][23]
• The average person in England in 2023 made 2% of trips by cycle.[24] Contributors stated infrastructure provision is failing to keep up with urban cycling demand. It was suggested there should be cross-sectoral policy objectives for cycling to be a more widely chosen transport mode outside of urban areas that attracts high representation from across all social groups and is used for journey purposes beyond commuting.[25][26]
• A 2021 UK-wide YouGov survey of 1,305 children aged 6-15 found that 2% travel to school by bike, with concerns raised that the number of pupils being brought to school by car leads to poor air quality around schools.[27] Contributors suggested addressing this would require improved infrastructure to facilitate safe active travel to address parental concerns about risks. Schools may also need to develop active travel plans and provide secure storage and changing facilities.[28]

References

[1] Committee of Public Accounts. (2023). Active travel in England. Seventy-Fifth Report of Session 2022–23

[2] Cook, S. et al. (2022). More than walking and cycling: What is ‘active travel’? Transport Policy Volume 126, Pages 151-161

[3] DfT. (2022) Active travel: local authority toolkit. GOV.UK

[4] Active Travel England. (2023). Guidance note for local authorities to support completion of the active travel fund 4 proforma. GOV.UK

[5] Active Travel England. GOV.UK

[6] Active Travel England. (2025). Almost £300 million to gear up new walking, wheeling and cycling schemes. GOV.UK

[7] Gössling, S., et al. (2021). The Health Cost of Transport in Cities. Current Environmental Health Reports. Volume 8, pages 196–201

[8] Bland, M., et al. (2024). Taking steps toward healthy & sustainable transport investment: A systematic review of economic evaluations in the academic literature on large-scale active transport infrastructure. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, Volume 18, 2024 – Issue 3

[9] Shilton, T., et al. (2024). More People, More Active, More Often for Heart Health – Taking Action on Physical Activity. Global Heart Journal, Volume: 19, Issue: 1

[10] Zhang, N., et al. (2024). Public transport inclusion and active aging: A systematic review on elderly mobility. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English Edition), Volume 11, Issue 2, Pages 312-347

[11] Cavill, N., et al. (2021). Active travel and mid-life Evidence on attitudes and on the role of the built environment. Centre for Aging Better.

[12] Tittlbach, S., et al. (2024). Maintaining health in daily life—is active travel the solution? German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research. Volume 54, pages 121–134

[13] Larriva, M., et al. (2024). Active and healthy ageing: Factors associated with bicycle use and frequency among older adults – A case study in Munich. Journal of Transport & Health, Volume 35, 101772

[14] Beckers, C., et al. (2025). Older Adults’ Travel Experiences: Role of the Perceived and Objective Built Environment.

[15] Roaf, E. et al. (2024). Interventions to increase active travel: A systematic review. Journal of Transport & Health, Volume 38, 101860

[16] Barbour, E., et al. (2023). Sustainable transportation and mobility solutions. Scientific Reports

[17] Yang, L. et al. (2024). Exploring non-linear and synergistic effects of green spaces on active travel using crowdsourced data and interpretable machine learning. Travel Behaviour and Society, Volume 34, 100673

[18] Lättman, K., et al. (2024). Sustainable Development of Urban Mobility through Active Travel and Public Transport. Sustainability, 16(2)

[19] Hosking, J. et al. (2024). Chapter Twelve – Can transport interventions contribute to health equity? A systematic review of whether the effects of transport interventions on major transport-related influences on health differ by ethnicity and socio-economic position. Advances in Transport Policy and Planning Volume 13, Pages 435-501

[20] Olsen, J. et al. (2024). Association between local amenities, travel behaviours and urban planning: A spatial analysis of a nationwide UK household panel study. Journal of Transport & Health Volume 36, 101784

[21] Nieuwenhuijsen, M. et al. (2024). The Superblock model: A review of an innovative urban model for sustainability, liveability, health and well-being.  Environmental Research, Volume 251, Part 1, 118550

[22] Weiszer, M., et al. (2021). TrustTransit: Public Transport Trip Planning During a Pandemic. Podaris

[23] Sundfør, H., et al. (2024). The effects of subsidising e-bikes on mode share and physical activity – A natural experiment. Journal of Transport & Health, Volume 35, 101752

[24] DfT. (2024). Walking and cycling statistics, England: Introduction and main findings (National Travel Survey). GOV.UK

[25] Jordi-Sánchez, M. et al. (2022). Deconstructing the categories of urban cycling: beyond transport, leisure and sport. Mobilities, Volume 17, Issue 6

[26] Larsen, R. et al. (2024). Behavioural interventions designed to increase commuter cycling: A systematic review. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Volume 100, Pages 388-401

[27] Sustrans. (2021). Survey reveals just 2% of UK pupils currently cycle to school.

[28] Boland, P., et al. (2025). Barriers and Facilitators to Cycling to School for Children in the UK: A Systematic Review. Active Travel Studies 5(1).

Photo by: Ross Sneddon via Unsplash.