Active travel

At a glance

Increasing levels of physical activity is central to improving the nation’s health and wellbeing, and active travel - which is the everyday journeys we make to get from place to place, like cycling to work - is widely viewed as having the potential to play a major part in that mission.

The evidence base on the link between active travel and physical activity is extensive, wide-ranging in terms of the interventions reviewed, exhibits variable degrees of rigour, and can be interpreted in different ways. In particular, the volume of available material has grown considerably in recent years and are expected to continue to grow in coming years.

Two women walking arm in arm.

Our strategy - Towards an Active Nation

Our strategy Towards an Active Nation sets out our vision that everyone in England, regardless of age, background or ability, should feel able to take part in sport or activity for the benefits it brings. Active travel is widely recognised for its role in supporting this.

We’re shining a light on the huge impact environmental prompts and cues can have in changing people’s behaviour, which is why we’re championing Active Design alongside active travel.

Active Design promotes physical activity, health and stronger communities through the way we design and build our towns and cities.

It has 10 principles to inspire and inform the layout of cities, towns, villages, neighbourhoods, buildings, streets and open spaces, to create more opportunities for physical activity.

Find out more about our Towards an Active Nation strategy

What we know

37% of adults aged 16+ travel actively at least twice a month
Walking for travel is the second most common physical activity in England – done by 33% of people at least twice a month
Cycling for travel is seventh – done by 6.8% of people
37% of children aged 5-15 walk for travel at least once a week, and 10% cycle for travel
Among the ‘active’ population, 11% are dependent on walking for travel and 1.3% on cycling for travel, to achieve their 150+ minutes of physical activity.

Sustrans on Active Travel

Carried out by an independent team led by walking and cycling charity Sustrans, in partnership with Dr Nick Cavill and Professor Adrian Davis, their research examines the effect active travel has on overall physical activity levels and reviews the effectiveness of many types of active travel interventions at increasing walking, cycling or physical activity.

The research looked at short journeys, like walking to the shops, walking the kids to school, cycling to work, or cycling to the station to catch a train.

Active Travel Full Report – Evidence Review

Download the file - 1.52 MB

What works

There’s strong evidence that implementing active travel principles are effective at increasing walking, cycling and physical activity, particularly for town or citywide approaches, typically made up of several interventions working together across a whole place.

Overall, the Sustrans review concludes that interventions increase active travel and therefore levels of physical activity. Of the different typologies, the evidence was strongest (in terms of volume and robustness) when active travel was encouraged in cities or towns, while each of the other intervention types reported some increases in walking and/or cycling.

Data from leading surveys show the significant contribution active travel already makes to the overall physical activity levels of children and adults.

There's a clear consensus that active travel can make an even greater contribution to physical activity – through increasing both the amount and intensity of activity. This evidence review gives the platform for a direct and coordinated effort to realise this untapped potential.

Active Travel Full Report – Evidence Review

Download the file - 1.52 MB

Tools and resources

Active Travel Uptake and Physical Activity

Active Travel Uptake and Physical Activity explores the relationship between physical activity and active travel behaviour, using data from the People and Places Survey (which is used by Transport for London to evaluate their Mini-Holland scheme).

It reveals how active travel can be effective at helping inactive people become active, and how increasing active travel can increase overall physical activity too.

Active Travel Uptake and Physical Activity

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Variation in Active Travel and the Scope to Increase Participation

Variation in Active Travel and the Scope to Increase Participation analyses two major datasets to assess the variation in, and scope to, increase active travel. It includes two scenarios showing the impact if everywhere had London’s short walking rates, or Cambridge’s cycling rates. Effective interventions and collaboration across the sector could help us realise this unmet potential.

Variation in Active Travel and the Scope to Increase Participation

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Active Travel Full Report – Evidence Review

Active Travel Full Report – Evidence Review provides an in-depth account of the research methodology (including study limitations), findings and conclusions drawn from Sustrans' study, as well as context and contributions relevant to the study. Literature is also included which covers a control mechanism to support comparison between the intervention and non-intervention locations.

Active Travel Full Report – Evidence Review

Download the file - 1.52 MB

Active Travel Summary – Evidence Review

Active Travel Summary – Evidence Review provides an authoritative account of how, and how best, active travel can support physical activity. It provides the main findings and messages, gives examples of effective interventions and tells you how you can use the full report to deliver, fund and research active travel to support physical activity.