Active Travel Survey

Warwickshire County Council's Road Safety Education Team conducted this survey to identify current behaviours and attitudes towards active travel, and to learn how and why people walk and cycle, or why they currently don’t.

The aims of the survey were to:

• Identify barriers to active travel in Warwickshire.
• Identify appropriate support and resources to encourage and enable active travel in Warwickshire, particularly for journeys 5 miles and under.
• Identify potential gaps in provision and education in Warwickshire.

The survey was designed to identify how best to support and enable Warwickshire residents to choose active travel as a mode of transport, and shape future educational interventions and campaigns. Responses from the survey will be used to help design a brand-new community campaign (#JustOneJourney) focussing on promoting active travel across Warwickshire, ensuring targeted and effective information and messaging.

The public were encouraged to take part in the survey through Ask Warwickshire and Facebook and Twitter promotion.

The survey received 863 responses from Warwickshire residents, with geographic representation from across Warwickshire. 6.72% were from North Warwickshire, 8.57% Nuneaton and Bedworth, 17.84% Rugby Borough, 41.14% Warwick District and 23.75% Stratford District. 31 responses were from non-Warwickshire residents who regularly visited Warwickshire.

Key information has been calculated from the number of respondents who answered the specific question.

Key statistics highlighted:

• 41% of respondents use the car to travel to and from work, with only 10% currently walking, 16% by bicycle and 9% using a combination of public transport and active travel. These statistics indicate the importance of promoting commuting by active and sustainable modes and engaging with workplaces and employees.
• 14% of respondents currently travel by car to visit family/friends for journeys 1 mile and under, and 52% for journeys 5 miles and under.
• Fewer residents' cycle than walk, with over 40% stating that they do not cycle due to lack of confidence.
• 77% of respondents strongly agree or agree that walking is convenient for journeys 1 mile and under and 70% that walking is time efficient. Only 10% strongly agree or agree that there is a good level of information about walking routes provided.
• 44% of respondents strongly agree or agree that cycling is convenient for journeys 5 miles and under. 10% believe that there is a good level of information about cycle routes provided.
• 89% of respondents would prefer to travel actively for journeys 1 mile and under, and 60% for journeys 5 miles and under.

Key themes included:

• Recognition of personal responsibility to travel actively and sustainably;
• A clear understanding of the positive outcomes on health and well-being, environment and financial;
• Belief that walking for journeys 1 mile and under is an effective use of time;
• Belief that cycling for journeys 5 miles and under is an effective use of time.

The survey highlighted that for more uptake in walking and cycling in Warwickshire there needs to be:

• An improved level of information of walking and cycling routes throughout Warwickshire;
• More accessible route planning;
• Safer walking and cycling routes;
• Improved cycle parking;
• Improved storage.

In addition to quantitative data, qualitative data indicated that there are concerns when walking, which include cyclists on footpaths, vehicles parked on pavements and road users not adhering to the Highway Code.

This survey has helped us learn about Warwickshire residents' attitudes towards active travel and current travel behaviours. The findings from the survey have helped us develop and launch a new Safe and Active Travel website:  https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/warwickshire-safe-active-travel.

The website has a variety of information and resources, developed in response to key themes highlighted in the survey. Including:

• Information about walking and cycling in Warwickshire;
• Journey planners;
• Travel plans;
• Videos and route maps; and
• Extensive information for Schools, Workplaces and Communities around being more active.

Next Steps:

• Promote the new Safe and Active Travel website via social media and with schools, workplaces and communities. This will be a one stop for shop for active and sustainable travel in Warwickshire.
• Develop and refine a community campaign to encourage and promote active travel, ensuring messaging reflects Warwickshire’s needs.
• Finalise development, deliver and evaluate a pilot behaviour change intervention for workplaces focussing on increasing the number of journeys made actively and sustainably to and from work.

The Road Safety Education Team would like to thank all members of the public who took the time to complete this survey and share their active travel experiences with us.