Author: Kate Lesenger

What are the main findings?

Since 2016, Places for Everyone has delivered almost 180km of cycle, pedestrian or shared use paths.

Nearly half of these are newly constructed with the remainder being upgrades to existing routes.  

Through Places for Everyone the Scottish Government provides millions of pounds to local authorities and community groups every year in order to help create new and accessible walking, wheeling and cycling connections across Scotland, from the Scottish Borders to the Western Isles.   

In 2023-24 alone, £76m was invested in active travel infrastructure via Places for Everyone, making this the largest active travel programme in Scotland at nearly 46% of the total investment.  

Thanks to these new paths, the number of people in Scotland living within 500m of high quality active travel infrastructure constructed through Places for Everyone has tripled between 2016 and 2024.   

The latest analysis, carried out by Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit (RMU) estimates that over 1.3 million more active travel trips per year were made after projects were delivered.

This analysis is based on a sample of projects and likely underestimates the true increase in trips.  

This is an increase of 28% in active travel trips.

For walking, there were 600,000 additional trips (an increase of 16%), whilst there were 700,000 more cycling trips (an increase of 85%).  

Results also indicate that Places for Everyone projects have contributed to a reduction in car travel and, consequently, levels of noise and air pollution.

What are the key benefits?

The latest analysis suggests that projects delivered through Places for Everyone have significantly improved safety for people walking, wheeling and cycling.  

As reported last year, the total number of casualties has decreased where new routes have been built despite a corresponding increase in walking, wheeling and cycling journeys.  

In response to surveys, more people also reported feeling safe after improvements had been made.

Before project delivery, 77% of survey respondents reported feeling safe on project sites, rising to 89% after.  

As well as improving safety, results suggest that the programme has boosted health outcomes by increasing physical activity.  

Across newly delivered projects, 94% of respondents agreed that a desire ‘to get exercise’ influenced their choice to walk, wheel or cycle along one of the new routes.

How has this impacted on protected groups?

Results show that completed Places for Everyone projects are also helping to encourage more active journeys to school.  

Schools with projects located within 500m have substantially higher rates of walking, wheeling and cycling to school compared to the Scottish average.  

In terms of gender and age, both men and women made more trips on Places for Everyone routes after construction, and the number of trips has also increased across every age group.  

However, because the overall number of trips has increased, the proportion of women making trips on Places for Everyone routes has remained similar.  

Other groups often under-represented in active travel include people from minority ethnic groups and those living with disabilities.  

Following project completion, the proportion of route user survey respondents from minority ethnic groups using the new routes increased, although they remain underrepresented.  

Similarly, the proportion of respondents with a long-term health condition has increased slightly but remains below the population average.  

Another aim of the programme was to increase walking, wheeling and cycling rates amongst people who live in areas identified as ‘deprived’ according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.   

Up to five years after completion, the number of trips made by people from more deprived areas has nearly doubled from around 97,000 annually to 184,000, an 89% increase.

However, this group remains underrepresented on Places for Everyone routes. 

Where can I read the report?

The excel-based report is available on request.  

Please contact scotland@sustrans.org.uk for more information.   

Construction is complete on the £11 million Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling project.

The project has created two new active travel corridors of more than 6.5 km that connect communities, businesses and higher education institutes across the city like never before.

The routes were officially opened on 24th April at a section next to Wallace High School, with staff and pupils, funding partners and other key local stakeholders marking the occasion.

Healthier lives, cleaner air and better for business

With many people across Stirling already using the new routes on a regular basis, locals are starting to reap the benefits of getting active for their everyday journeys.

One of the routes provides a direct connection to Wallace High School.

School pupil Nora said: “It definitely encouraged me to cycle more because it’s just a safer route.

“I don’t really like cycling on the road, so it’s a lot easier to go more places with the cycle paths.”

Walking, wheeling and cycling is good for our physical and mental health, as well as being a crucial part of our journey to a Net Zero nation.

Evidence also shows that active travel benefits the economy, including increased spending on the high street and in town centres.

The new routes connect residents and tourists to local Stirling businesses.

Danielle McRorie-Smith, Director of Go Forth, Stirling’s Business Improvement District, said:

“It greatly helps accessibility for the city centre businesses and especially for the Business Improvement District.

“It cuts down on the volume of traffic and it’s encouraging for the university students to have that link in with the city centre: to go there to spend their money, to spend their time, study, use the cafes and coffee shops and all the Business Improvement District businesses.

“I think it also makes it so much more attractive, from a placemaking perspective, when you see a healthy city centre and people using the cycle routes.”

Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling – a route guide

The project is comprised of two routes.

Route one provides a safe and accessible link between Stirling Train Station and the University of Stirling. 

The route travels north from the Train Station, crossing the historic Old Stirling Bridge before heading up Causewayhead Road.

People walking, wheeling and cycling can take in the views of the iconic Wallace Monument on their way towards the University.

Route two has bridged the gap between Forth Valley College and Stirling’s historic city centre.

On the way out from the city centre, the route passes through Albert Place.

New traffic-calming measures and landscaping improvements have made this on-street section a welcoming and enjoyable place to walk, wheel and cycle.

Coming out onto Dumbarton Road, the segregated path passes by the King’s Knot and, along Raploch Road, under the shadow of the impressive Stirling Castle. 

The route continues onto Raploch, connecting people to Forth Valley College.

Expanding travel choice

Connecting communities and places across Stirling through safe and accessible routes, Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling offers real travel choice to locals and visitors alike.

Simon Strain, Head of Programme for Places for Everyone at Sustrans, said:

“Making walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier means everyone moving around Stirling has more choice for everyday journeys.

“Feeling confident enough to choose to walk, wheel or cycle benefits our health, our wallets, and our local environment. 

“We’re delighted that Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling has now made these choices a reality for more people in the city.” 

Stirling Council Depute Leader, Councillor Jen Preston, described the project as setting “a new standard for active travel infrastructure in a Scottish city”.

“For the first time ever, there are seamless routes for cycling and walking in the heart of Stirling, linking communities and public transport hubs to businesses, schools, the university and college, as well as the wider region.

“The new infrastructure has already been used by people of all ages in our communities, including by pupils and staff at Wallace High, and it’s going to be a key part of how we support the growing shift to active travel as well as increasing footfall and economic activity for our businesses. 

“I want to thank all our residents and businesses for their patience and understanding during the works, and we are committed to engaging with them to unlock the full benefits of this major investment.” 

Working in partnership to embolden communities

Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling has been funded by the Scottish Government through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme (£8.4 million) and via the City Region Deal (£2.5 million), and by Stirling Council from developer contributions (£325,000).

The project is a cornerstone of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

This is a £214 million partnership between both Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, the University of Stirling and the UK and Scottish Governments.

The new routes also lay the foundations for planned future connections reaching out beyond Stirling to Clackmannanshire and the wider Forth Valley Region. 

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:

“To support the ambitions of Scotland’s local authorities for more high quality active travel infrastructure, we are investing £188 million into active and sustainable transport in 2025-26.

“This will help ensure more people and communities across Scotland can benefit from easier sustainable travel options.

“To help communities prosper, the Scottish Government is investing £45 million through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

“The Deal aims to create 5,000 jobs in Clackmannanshire and Stirling by boosting transport, tourism, training, business growth and projects to tackle climate change.”