Improves our health and well-being
The final Spotlight concentrated on the fourth NTS priority ‘Improves our Health and Well-being’. The aims of this Spotlight were to identify and understand:
- Reactions to associations with the priority and outcomes.
- Barriers to active and sustainable travel.
- Views on safety, including road safety strategy.
- The importance the participants place on Delivery Areas.
Will be Safe and Secure for All
NTS explains this outcome as:
The prevention and reduction of incidents on the transport system will continue to be a priority.”
| Topic | Materials utilised |
|---|---|
| Overall sub-theme | Video Road Safety Framework to 2030-overview |
| Road Safety | Presentation by Head of Road Safety Policy |
| Delivery Areas | Poll |
Participants had considerable safety concerns with regards to travel. Some saw road safety as primarily a matter of individual responsibility, while many others suggested that other road-users and external factors could present a danger.
The road safety framework’s Vision Zero target was widely seen as a laudable and positive ambition, but one that was unlikely to be achieved in practice. Traffic accidents were largely seen as an inevitability – often phrased in terms of other people’s bad driving – though people tempered this with a recognition of the positive and consistent progress to date in reducing accidents and fatalities.
With regards to active travel, participants were more likely to see external factors, such as road maintenance or cycle lane provision as major issues, but there was also an appetite from some for more conscientious and responsible road-use from cyclists. The interplay between drivers and other (active) road-users was often framed as a somewhat adversarial one, with reckless driving seen to endanger others.
Across break-out groups, participants suggested that awareness and understanding of the Highway Code and other road safety rules were lacking, or that this waned after passing one’s driving test. Recent changes to the Highway Code were cited by a number of participants as an example of low awareness. While this applied primarily to drivers, some suggested that this relates to all road-users, including cyclists.
Although I welcome this Highway Code [change], whether it actually gets through to people, whether we see it in action… I will be very, very surprised.”
Some suggested that increasing the number of education campaigns could help to tackle this, and a number of participants expressed support for refresher tests to renew one’s driving licence.
There was broad support for strengthening enforcement of road safety rules and guidelines. Several participants suggested that there is little or inconsistent enforcement, and that there are ways that people can avoid accountability, for instance, by taking courses in lieu of accepting points on one’s licence. There was uncertainty from some participants as to whether this was a good educational measure, or whether it granted carte blanche to people to speed without consequences. A few participants mentioned motorways as spaces where speed limits are routinely not enforced, with one participant calling for a greater use of average speed cameras.
There was a broad appetite for strengthening fines and penalties for dangerous driving, with some suggesting that people who do so (or do so repeatedly) should lose their licence. Other proposed solutions to this issue included technological fixes such as using GPS tracking to enforce speed limits.
Road maintenance was highlighted as an important facet of road safety. Potholes were consistently cited as threats to both drivers and cyclists, while poorly maintained pavements were seen as a danger to pedestrians and wheelchair users. There was a perception from some that roads are well maintained on larger A roads and bypasses, but that smaller local roads and those in rural areas are often overlooked.
Some participants also stressed the dangers posed by other road-users, such as cyclists. Proposed solutions included suggestions of bike licensing and training, and some suggested that cyclists should be required to be visible and properly equipped. One participant shared their view that bikes are subject to fewer maintenance requirements than cars despite their ability to cause injury and damage.
Active travel, and cycling in particular, was associated with negotiating threat and danger. These included diversions, congestion and dangerous drivers, and participants displayed a common lack of confidence in navigating these.
Several other issues and dangers relating to travel included safety aboard public transport and in public, especially among women and children, and at certain times of day. Some female participants voiced concerns about women walking alone late at night or in quiet areas, and parents raised concerns about their children travelling to school on busy roads. Related concerns were reported around the potential for theft and mugging, which active travel may facilitate.
Will Enable us to Make Healthy Travel Choices
NTS explains this outcome as:
Active modes will be a preferred method of travel and have a significant positive effect on individual health and well-being. This will reduce the social and economic impact of public health problems such as mental health, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.”
| Topic | Materials utilised |
|---|---|
| Overall sub-theme | Video Way to work- employers and employees |
| Delivery Areas | Poll |
Based on the stimulus materials (Table 12), active travel and healthy travel choices were widely seen to be a good thing, with numerous and clear advantages for physical health as well as mental health associated with active travel.
Physical Barriers and Active Travel
A small number of participants noted that the benefits of active travel and healthy travel choices may not apply to certain individuals, for whom active travel may be unrealistic or, in fact, undesirable. Some expressed concerns that such people should not be penalised or inconvenienced by a move towards active travel.
I thought [the Ways to Work video] was very positive, but I think there needs to be an acknowledgement that it isn't for everybody at the end of the day [...] the feeling is that everybody should be walking or cycling but older people or disabled groups can’t do that.”
The NTS aims to “enable people to make healthy travel choices”. However, particular issues and barriers were identified in relation to both individual factors (such as age, disability and know-how/confidence) and external factors (including the weather, infrastructure and the provision of suitable facilities in work and/or on public transport).
At an individual level, across groups it was noted that this agenda might not be suitable or realistic for older and disabled people who face physical barriers to adopting active travel. Some voiced concerns that such people should not suffer or face penalties or inconvenience as a result of this.
Safety and Active Travel
Other participants noted a lack of confidence or know-how among the public with regards to active travel. This included low confidence riding a bike in built up areas and the stress that this can entail. However, the barriers identified by participants to taking up active and healthy modes of travel were primarily extrinsic in nature. Many participants noted that the weather in Scotland is often not conducive to cycling or walking. Ice, in particular, as well as wind and rain were seen to make these dangerous as well as unpleasant. Some suggested that more regular and widespread gritting of cycle paths and roads outside of cities would be valuable in facilitating active travel.
I cycle to work when I can, but during the winter here it’s been hard, especially when the roads are busy. […] During the summer I can go off-road for most of the way, but during this time of year, the path’s too muddy, it’s not lit. I’m cycling on my own and if anything happens to me, access to these places isn’t good.”
Common concerns also included poor practice from other road-users; this tended to refer to bad or dangerous drivers who made cyclists in particular, as well as pedestrians, feel uneasy, though a few also noted that reckless cyclists could endanger pedestrians. Many participants also noted that traffic, congestion and diversions could cause stress and uncertainty for such road-users, especially cyclists. A number of participants shared their own or friends’/family members’ negative experiences of active travel, often remarking that such incidents had put them off active travel and could take considerable time to get over.
To tackle low confidence or anxiety, it was suggested by some that guided cycle groups or training could be helpful in building familiarity, experience and confidence to better equip cyclists with the skills to navigate other road-users.
Finally, certain people expressed concerns about safety relating to active travel. This included the suggestion that women or children might be unsafe out on their own, or at night. Others suggested that certain places might be associated with criminality or intimidation, and others cited stories of mugging and theft that discouraged them from pursuing active travel.
There’s certain towpaths or canals around me that, at the wrong time of night, or even during the day if there’s been a big football match, they’re no-go areas. Sometimes I’ve been cycling along the path and I’ve had to turn around cos there’s a big gang of people drinking and whatever.”
Infrastructure and Active Travel
Poor road maintenance in general was cited as off-putting for several participants. Many cited the frequency of potholes and loose rubble, which were seen to be dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. It was suggested that loose road-surfacing, for instance, could either cause cyclists to come off their bikes, or passing cars could kick this up at them and cause injury.
The inadequate provision of suitable infrastructure and facilities was reported as a barrier to shifting towards healthy, active modes of travel.
With regards to infrastructure, there was a broad perception that the provision of suitable cycle lanes or paths is lacking, and especially so outside of larger settlements and city centres, or for those making longer journeys. One participant also pointed to the lack of storage facing many people living in flats, and the shortage of secure on-street storage for bicycles or other modes of active transport.
There was a perceived disconnect between public transport and active travel, with an appetite for greater integration between the two. Many participants suggested that an optimal solution would be to split a commute, especially if you live further from work, between the bus and forms of active travel, such as cycling. However, most buses were not thought to allow bikes on or to have the necessary space for these.
I think they should be investing more in buses, so you can do part of the journey and take your bike. In America they have these racks, and I’ve seen a few recently in Edinburgh but that’s a big city, [not] if you’re out in the country.”
The inadequate provision of facilities by and/or for workplaces was also widely remarked upon. All groups reflected that working environments and spaces are often not conducive to active travel. A frequent lack of showers, lockers or storage facilities were noted across groups, and were seen to preclude such changes. The high price-point of bikes (and especially of e-bikes and e-trikes) meant that many would want to have secure storage made available before investing in such a product.
It was widely suggested that investment in improved workplace facilities, such as lockers, storage and showers, was a prerequisite for encouraging this sort of behaviour change. Several respondents also suggested that flexibility had a role to play in encouraging such behaviours: it was argued by some that flexible hours would allow workers to avoid busy and dangerous rush-hour commutes, and thus allow them to more confidently cycle or walk to work. Other suggestions included incentives and competitions in the workplace to encourage active travel.
Employers could offer more secure places to lock your bike cos they can be quite expensive things, and we’ve seen that bike theft over the past few years has skyrocketed. If somebody’s got an expensive bike they wouldn’t necessarily want to lock it up outside their office just next to a lamppost.”
Financial Barriers and Active Travel
Relatedly, financial barriers included the price of bikes and other forms of active transport that participants noted some could simply not afford. A few also noted the additional costs that this might entail, such as locks, helmets and mirrors.
It was suggested that trial periods for expensive bikes and e-bikes would allow people to test these out without committing to an expensive investment. Other suggestions included price plans or supports to pay for these given their often high price-point.
Although it might work out cheaper to cycle over time, if you’re not sure if it’s going to work for you then it is quite an expensive outlay at the beginning.”
Will Help Make our Communities Great Places to Live
NTS explains this outcome as:
Will help make our communities great places to live: cleaner and greener places and networks will encourage walking, wheeling and cycling. This will deliver more social interaction, support local businesses and services and create vibrant communities.”
| Topic | Materials utilised |
|---|---|
| Overall sub-theme | Discussion Guides |
Participants could see transport provision playing its part in improving communities in Scotland, prompted by the discussions (see Table 13). An earlier session had already raised the concept of 20 minute neighbourhoods with participants, so this topic was not covered in depth within this session.
Participants were widely aware of the benefits of active travel to physical as well as mental health for individuals. They pointed to the benefits of natural light, fresh air and nature for people’s mental health and well-being. These benefits were obvious to many participants, with a number raising this topic spontaneously.
Well it goes without saying that the more you exercise the healthier you’re going to be.”
Just anything that gets you out in the fresh air and the daylight. We’re so used to sitting in front of a screen, but getting into some real sunlight can only be good.”
Furthermore, they related individual benefits to benefits for the whole community.
Considering places people live in, participants raised how transport can affect air quality. Several participants also spoke about the benefits of reduced congestion, not only with regards to public health but also as they relate to more generalised well-being.
For some participants, a move towards improved active travel and public transport was seen to make cities and towns more agreeable places to live. However, wider benefits, such as those to the economy, were less evident to participants and did not surface spontaneously in the discussions.
In their comments to the survey following the session, participants displayed a desire for:
- More education on the benefits of active travel in communities - for adults as well as children
- Better design of active travel routes and facilities
- Tailored planning for different types of settlement- from urban to remote rural
Safety as a consideration in transport planning, and wider place planning.