Travelknowhow Scotland is working with each of the 7 Regional Transport Partnerships across Scotland to explore the positive impact of walking, wheeling and cycling within the workplace.

UK charity Sustrans released their latest Walking and Cycling Index (formerly known as ‘Bike Life’) in 2023. This index, which is the biggest ever survey of walking, wheeling and cycling, reports on attitudes towards active travel and the progress made in urban areas across the UK and Ireland.

Travelknowhow Scotland, is working in collaboration with Scotland’s 7 Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) to deliver workplace travel planning solutions, looking closer into the regional benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling, as well as how each RTP is supporting sustainable and active travel.

Edinburgh and Dumfries

The latest survey showcased key milestones for healthy, sustainable transport in Scotland’s capital. The Edinburgh Walking and Cycling Index reported that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 1314 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 160,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 42,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £262.6 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

In the first index for Dunfermline, it was found that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 143 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 13,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 1,900 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £39.2 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

SEStran, the RTP for South East Scotland, is delivering a range of projects to improve accessibility, promote sustainability and encourage active travel.

One example is the GoSEStran Mobility as a Service (MaaS) app, which is a free journey planning tool. This app has been developed to help residents to plan a journey anywhere in Scotland and choose from all available travel options based on journey duration, cost and predicted CO2 emissions.

Edinburgh Walking and Cycling Index | Dumfries Walking and Cycling Index

Learn more about SEStran

Glasgow

Glasgow is making significant progress in developing infrastructure to enable greener transport. The benefits of this infrastructure have been highlighted in the Glasgow Walking and Cycling index, which found that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 1403 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 140,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 24,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £453.8 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) is supporting greener transport in Glasgow and surrounding areas through the delivery of infrastructure including their bike parking facilities. Bike parking is provided free of charge at various SPT subway and bus stations throughout Strathclyde, which encourages the use of active and public transport over cars for longer journeys.

Glasgow Walking and Cycling Index

Learn more about SPT

Stirling, Perth and Dundee

In its third survey, Stirling has shown how major new sustainable transport infrastructure projects are accelerating their journey to net zero and building healthier, better connected and greener communities. The Stirling Walking and Cycling Index reported that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 118 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 12,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 2,100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £34.9 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

Perth is continuing to make positive steps in creating safer and more appealing streets, where residents feel confident to travel actively. In the Perth Walking and Cycling Index, it was reported that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 170 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 13,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 2,100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £42.7 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

Exciting projects are also being implemented in Dundee, which are helping residents from all areas to unlock the benefits of active travel. The Dundee Walking and Cycling Index reported that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 328 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 32,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 4,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £81.5 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

Tactran, the RTP for Tayside and Central Scotland, is delivering a range of projects to support mobility throughout the region. The projects include their MaaS apps, Go NHS Tayside and My D&A Travel, which enable users to plan, compare and make the most of the travel network available to them.

Stirling Walking and Cycling Index | Perth Walking and Cycling Index | Dundee Walking and Cycling Index

Learn more about Tactran

Aberdeen

In a city the size of Aberdeen, active travel is a real alternative to car travel for many people. In the latest Aberdeen Walking and Cycling Index, it was reported that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 573 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 55,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 9,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £163.4 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire’s RTP, Nestrans, is delivering a range projects to support long-term transport improvements. One example includes bike re-use and recycling, which is a collaborative project between Nestrans and two local charities, designed to give unwanted bikes a new lease of life in support of local people and causes.

Aberdeen Walking and Cycling Index

Learn more about Nestrans

Inverness

Investment in active travel is positively supporting the future of healthier and greener transport in Inverness. In its latest survey, the Inverness Walking and Cycling Index reported that every year, walking, wheeling and cycling resulted in:

  • 202 serious long-term health conditions prevented
  • Up to 16,000 cars taken off the road every day
  • 3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
  • £58.5 million in economic benefit for individuals and the region

Despite that some aspects of the HITRANS region are not conducive to active travel, the projects delivered by the RTP have helped many parts of the area to have proportion of residents walking or cycling to work above the Scottish average.

Inverness Walking and Cycling Index

Learn more about HITRANS

Travelknowhow Scotland is continuing to support the efforts of each RTP to encourage active and sustainable travel through their free consultancy package. This package develops bespoke active and sustainable travel planning measures to help Scottish businesses to reduce their environmental impact, improve the health and wellbeing of the workforce and contribute to net-zero targets.

To find out more about Travelknowhow Scotland’s free consultancy support and the workplaces we are currently working with, please visit https://www.travelknowhowscotland.co.uk/services/consultancy-time or contact us at info@travelknowhowscotland.co.uk