Introduction

The requirement for Active Travel Strategies (ATS), setting out a strategic approach to plan infrastructure and behavioural interventions, was introduced in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland in 2013, reinforced by the National Walking Strategy. Active Travel Strategy Guidance was issued in 2014, to support local authorities and other statutory bodies to prepare an ATS for their area.

This update reflects key changes to national policy with implications for active travel strategies. There is a new definition of active travel, highlighting that strategies should deliver interventions for walking, wheeling and cycling and be informed by Equality Impact Assessments. New recommendations for top priority interventions, including segregated cycle networks in large towns/cities, rural routes that link to them, as well as neighbourhood-scale interventions. It also provides advice on the ATS development process, with greater emphasis on using data and evidence to inform the strategy, and demonstrate the most impactful suite of interventions for the local context has been identified.

Active travel sits within the broader transport context: the National Transport Strategy (NTS) identified that poor integration is a barrier to people choosing sustainable modes (active, public, or shared transport). As set out in the second NTS Delivery Plan and Climate Change Plan update Monitoring Report, the Scottish Government are updating the guidance for discretionary local transport strategies (LTS) to align with national and regional strategies. Local transport strategies will allow authorities to detail how they intend to deliver on national objectives at a local level and provide an action plan for meeting local challenges and objectives. It is important that active travel interventions are planned as part of a package of measures that collectively incentivise modal shift to sustainable modes of transport.

In addition, while an ATS will set out how we better connect people and places by active travel, the justification for active travel interventions can be strengthened by delivering multiple benefits together, especially when resources are scarce. Taking a place-based approach to meeting community needs, considering places as a whole, can lead to greater benefits than through individual interventions, while also delivering on local health outcomes and narrowing health inequalities. There are also opportunities for environmental benefits beyond contribution of active travel to net zero emissions, through the inclusion of climate adaptation measures and biodiversity enhancements.

An ATS will make clear how its suite of projects delivers local policy priorities, integrating planning for walking, wheeling and cycling across disciplines and service areas, as well as delivering on national policy outcomes. In doing so they are effective tools to support decision-makers, helping to secure resources and provide the basis for funding applications.