Behaviour change

The National Walking and Cycling Network in Scotland (NWCN)

Organisation:
Sustrans Scotland

Media type:
Other evidence/studies

Topic:
Behaviour change

Setting:
Employees / workplace, Community, Families / residential, Individuals, Town centres / Urban, Leisure & recreation / tourism, Countryside / Rural

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This report evidences the number of trips made on the network, characteristics of network users, users' perceptions and the benefits to local businesses.

Key statistics

104.5 million

estimated walking trips on the National Walking and Cycling Network in 2016 (NWCN 2019)

1,103,938

estimated walking trips on the NWCN were for travel to work, shopping or visiting friends (NWCN 2016)

7,387,897

estimated walking trips on the NWCN were for leisure (NWCN 2016)

67%

of users of the NWCN walked or used their bike for their complete journey that day (NWCN 2019)

?1.6b

of estimated expenditure in the local economy was generated from leisure walkers on the NWCN in 2019 (NWCN 2019)

?3.62

per head per trip is estimated to be spent by walkers (NWCN 2019)

59%

of businesses located on or near the NWCN expect it to lead to increased footfall (NWCN 2019)

of businesses located on or near the NWCN anticipate an extended operating season due to the NWCN (NWCN 2019)

30%

of businesses located on or near the NWCN estimate half of their customers use the local walking and cycling routes (NWCN 2019)

21,000

full time equivalent jobs are estimated to be supported through tourism linked to walking (NWCN 2019)

Over two thirds

64% of all route users achive 30 minutes of physical activity on five or more days in the week (NWCN 2019)

Over three quarters

84% of all route users state the NWCN helped them increase their physical activity levels (NWCN 2019)

16%

16% of route users would not have achieved physical activity without access to local walking and cycling routes (NWCN 2019)

67%

of route users chose not to use a car that day because of the health benefits of walking and cycling (NWCN 2019)

7.1 million kg of CO2e

Walking and cycling trips on the network are estimated as taking 19.5 million car journeys off the road over the year, saving 7.1 million kg of CO2e.

Plans for a strategic network of long-distance paths and routes across Scotland are included in the Scottish Government's third National Planning Framework (NPF3), its long-term vision for development and investment in Scotland over the next twenty to thirty years. The National Walking and Cycling Network (NWCN), identified in NPF3 will build on the existing network of routes in Scotland by closing key gaps, upgrading connections, encouraging multi-use and improving links with public transport.

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Behaviour change

The National Walking and Cycling Network in Scotland (NWCN)

Overview

Key statistics

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