Active Transport
Walking and cycling have great benefits for health and accessibility. They can also reduce traffic and emissions when replacing short car journeys. Creating environments that are favourable to walking and cycling can improve overall quality of life in Tamworth. Our aim is to achieve these benefits by enabling and encouraging more people in Tamworth to cycle and walk, more often and in a safer environment.
Useful links
Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership
Cycling in Staffordshire
Walks and country trails in Staffordshire
Benefits of active travel
- Better health – active travel is a simple, low cost and effective way to incorporate physical activity into daily life.
- Better road safety – there is evidence to suggest a ‘safety in numbers’ effect for both cycling and walking; the more people taking part makes it safer.
- Better for the environment – active travel can replace many short car journeys reducing traffic, air pollution, noise pollution as well as making a positive contribution towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Benefits to businesses – people who travel on foot or by bike tend to be healthier, be absent less often and be more productive in the workplace (see Active employment page).
- Wider economic benefits – walking and cycling make very efficient use of road space so help reduce congestion. Research by the UK Department for Transport has found that investment in cycling shows economic returns of around £3 for every £1 invested.
- Social benefits – when people walk and cycle around their neighbourhood, they are much more likely to meet and interact, increasing a sense of community. People out and about walking and cycling help make our streets a safer place to be.
- Improved quality of life – the combined benefits of more people getting about on foot and by bike add together to give a better overall quality of urban life.
