Active Travel
Schools
Just over half of primary-aged pupils walk to school. Although this figure is high, this is less than in previous decades.
The Scottish Executive wants to increase the number of pupils who walk and cycle to school.
There are significant benefits to children from walking or cycling to school in terms of their health, social development and education. Walking or cycling to school regularly can:
- Contribute to daily physical activity levels.
- Develop an understanding of road danger and road safety issues.
- Enable children to develop an awareness of the environment.
- Provide social interaction with peers.
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Active Travel Scotland has an overall aim to bring about an increase in the number of Scottish people improving their health through physically active modes of travel: walking and cycling.
Safer Routes to School, or a school travel plan, is a multi-disciplinary school based approach which aims to improve safety and remove barriers to walking and cycling to and from school .
Around the Community
Supporting community planning partnerships to develop and integrate physical activity across relevant service areas to enhance the opportunities for active living for all those living within the communities that they serve.
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Active Travel Scotland has an overall aim to bring about an increase in the number of Scottish people improving their health through physically active modes of travel: walking and cycling.
Sustrans is an organisation that works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport.
The Scottish Executive's
Walking Strategy Consultation discusses how walking can contribute not only to the health and well-being of individuals but also to many aspects of community life
Spokes is the Lothian Cycle campaign for better conditions for cyclists, especially in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
- The
Paths to Health Project exists to support the development of local Paths to Health Schemes in Scotland and to promote walking for health
In and through the Workplace
It is an indisputable fact that too often we drive short distances to and from work that could easily be walked or cycled. Currently more than a third of all car trips are for journeys of less than 3 kilometres (that would take the average person about 20-30 minutes to walk).
Commuting to work is a major source of physical activity and it can be implemented at little expense. Active commuting can not only help improve our own health but contributes to a healthier & more pleasant environment.
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