Draft Active Travel Strategy Consultation

Appendix A: Active Travel – Baseline Evidence

Data collected and reported at a national and local level is useful in determining where attention is best directed and for tracking trends and assessing the impact of investment.

1. National travel patterns

1.1 The average adult makes fewer than three trips a day with women making more trips than men, typically shorter in distance.

1.2 In terms of popularity the most frequented destinations in order of popularity are shops, work, other businesses, friend's houses, schools and entertainment venues.

1.3 Pre-pandemic the distance the average person travelled over the course of a year was circa 6,500 miles, 18 miles a day and this is on a declining trend. People spend on average 375 hours a year travelling, a little over an hour a day or 6% of awake hours. Using a car is the most popular mode, at 59% of all trips made and 80% of miles travelled.

1.4 Adding up the total distance of the trips people make on foot each year comes to 210 miles on average. This represents an average of 267 separate walking trips. Women walk more than men at all age ranges. The average distance per trip is a little over half a mile and equates to 1,200 steps a day. 12% of people report never making a trip to a destination that takes more than 20 minutes.

1.5 People who cycle report using their bike 15 times a year and travel a total of 57 miles. Leisure is the most popular reason cited for cycling at 36% of all trips followed by commuting at 30% and education at 13%. Within Europe the UK is an outlier in that men make more cycling trips than women, also traveling greater distances. For both men and women cycling is most popular between the ages of 40 to 49.

2. Local travel patterns

2.1 The Council's 2024 Household Travel Survey showed 89% of Central Bedfordshire households report having access to a car. 33% reporting ownership of two or more vehicles. Residents report driving most days (80%) or traveling in a car as a passenger (26%). 62% of residents report making a journey on foot most days. 5% report using a bike three or more times a week.

2.2 A substantial majority of residents (59%) are supportive of the Council prioritising more low carbon and sustainable travel. 23% cite a lack of provision for cyclists as a problem with 14% citing similar issues for pedestrians.

2.3 In regard to walking, 62% of residents walk most days. 10% percent of residents report walking to work, a figure that is broadly in line with the 2021 Census of 8%. This figure rises to 49% for those whose employment is within two miles of their home. When prompted with a list of possible interventions, most respondents took the view there is little the authority could do that would encourage them to walk more. 72% of residents support pedestrianisation of town centres and 63% support reducing speed limits.

2.4 In regard to cycling, 5% report using their bike most days and 8% cycle at least three times a week. Residents aged 35 to 64 are slightly more likely to cycle. When prompted, safer roads, cycle lanes or paths are most frequently cited as interventions that would encourage more cycling. Despite 39% households reporting access to a bike, 74% report never cycling and 81% say none of the proposed interventions would encourage them to cycle more in future.

2.5 23% of residents would like to reduce their car use and are actively working to do so and 45% would like to. 38% site a lack of suitable alternative transport provision or infrastructure as the reason for not changing. 29% cited issues with the location of local services, shops, education or employment and 14% mentioned health, fitness or mobility concerns as reasons for not being able to reduce their own car use.