Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit contributes to the monitoring and evaluation of a sample of Places for Everyone projects. When a scheme is selected, we work collaboratively with the project team to evaluate its impact. Every project will have a unique set of project aims, objectives and outcomes, as well as a monitoring plan outlining how these will be measured. Our role is to ensure the Places for Everyone outcomes are measured, and to report to Transport Scotland.
We do this by:
- Addressing Places for Everyone outcomes by commissioning, collecting, and analysing data on a project level.
- Utilising some standardised data collection tools which allow us to aggregate data programme-wide.
- Writing summary evaluation reports for selected projects.
- Reporting on the programme outcomes Scotland-wide using aggregated data and case studies from selected projects.
Additionally, we support the entire programme by offering expertise to the Grant Management Team in relation to monitoring and evaluation deliverables. We provide guidance and training as well as support with the assessment criteria to ensure projects are impactful across the programme.
The three most recent blog posts about our work are:
- Latest Places for Everyone annual impact report released
- Places for Everyone 2021-22 Report Released
- Active travel increases after path upgrades to Wishawhill Wood
All listed reports are authored by the Research and Monitoring Unit, rather than created by our project partners.
Impact Reports
Places for Everyone Infrastructure Impact Report 2022-23
This report presents the findings of the 2022-23 evaluation of the impact of the Places for Everyone programme, which aimed to assess the contribution of the programme to delivering Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Outcomes and a number of specific PfE outcomes. It draws on programme level monitoring data, aggregated data from a sample of infrastructure projects and five in depth case studies of completed projects.
Places for Everyone Infrastructure Impact Report 2022-23 (Easy Read)
This report is an easy read version of the 2022-23 Places for Everyone Infrastructure Impact Summary Report.
Places for Everyone Infrastructure Impact Report 2021-22
This report presents the findings of the 2021-22 evaluation of the impact of the Places for Everyone programme, which aimed to assess the contribution of the programme to delivering Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Outcomes. The evaluation draws on aggregated data from a sample of 30 projects which were monitored both before and after project delivery throughout the history of the programme.
The Cycle Friendly Kingussie ‘Gynack Gardens’ scheme was a child-friendly project which transformed a previously under-used community space in a small rural town into a welcoming public-space and active travel link. The evaluation presents quantitative and qualitative data to evidence the scheme’s impacts, and is notable for using a creative research method (photowalk focus group) to include children’s perspectives.
Lochindaal Way
The Lochindaal Way, formally opened in October 2021, provides a safe, accessible, traffic-free route between the two communities of Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich on Islay. The full report details the results of a programme of monitoring delivered before and after the construction of the path. The summary report is also available.
Lower Granton Road Shared Path
Improvements were made to the path at Lower Granton Road in 2018 and the route was incorporated into the ‘QuietRoutes’ network. This report presents the results of a programme of monitoring conducted to assess the impact of the project against the Places for Everyone outcomes.
Glasgow South City Way Protected Junctions
As part of the Glasgow South City Way project, protected junctions were installed at two locations along the Victoria Road section of the project and were the first such junctions to be trialled in Scotland. This report details the results of a study that looked at pedestrian and cyclist experiences at the junctions and how they impacted the road safety of all users.
Maidencraig Active Travel Links
In 2020, Aberdeen City Council and Places for Everyone upgraded and enhanced the active travel facilities in Maidencraig, a wetland nature reserve to the west of Aberdeen. This report presents the results of a programme of monitoring conducted to assess the impact of the scheme against various outcomes.
Wishawhill Wood Path
In 2020, a muddy and overgrown track through Wishawhill Wood, North Lanarkshire, was upgraded to a wide walking, wheeling and cycling path that connects the communities of Craigneuk and Wishaw. This report details the impact of the project on local levels of physical activity, engagement with walking and cycling, and the accessibility of the path.
Baseline Reports
Roseburn to Union Canal
The Roseburn to Union Canal project aims to connect up existing active travel routes near Haymarket Station in Edinburgh and create community spaces through placemaking interventions. The project is currently under construction and this report presents the results of the baseline monitoring conducted before construction began.
Connecting Woodside
The Connecting Woodside project aims to create neighbourhood wide active travel network in the community of Woodside in Glasgow. The project is currently under construction and this report presents the results of the baseline monitoring conducted before construction began.
Inverness Space by the Water
The Space by the Water project will improve the path surfaces and accessibility of the Caledonian Canal path network in the communities of Muirtown Basin, Merkinch and South Kessock in Inverness. The project is currently under construction and this report presents the results of the baseline monitoring conducted before construction began.
Dumfries New Hospital
Dumfries & Galloway Council, with support from Sustrans, is delivering high quality active travel facilities for the new Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary Hospital. A programme of monitoring will be delivered before and after construction of the infrastructure; this report details the findings at the baseline monitoring stage.
Balgray Link
The Balgray Link project aims to build a 2km long segregated cycle route connecting the communities of Barrhead and Newton Mearns and encompasses a 700m boardwalk overlooking the Balgray reservoir. This short report presents the baseline findings of a programme of monitoring delivered in 2019.