Interventions to increase active travel

• All Wales/National
• International

Active travel is used to describe walking and cycling for purposeful journeys to a destination, alone or in combination with public transport. Levels of active travel in Wales are currently low compared to other countries in Europe. Increasing active travel is a key priority in Wales, contributing to the achievement of all seven of Wales’ well-being goals. 

This topic evidence summary aims to identify and explore the following questions:

1. What are the most effective universal or targeted/selective group interventions for increasing active travel in the general population?
2. What interventions lead to a modal shift in the general population’s transport use, for example limiting or decreasing car use and/or increasing use of cycling, walking or public transport?

Statements have been compiled using evidence from 87 primary studies which met our inclusion criteria for this topic evidence summary. To be considered for inclusion they had to include an outcome measure of active travel (such as walking or cycling) for a purposeful journey to a destination, or a modal shift in transport (for example, a decrease in car use with corresponding increase in walking).

Based on data extracted from the sources identified, interventions have been categorised into those which the evidence suggests may be effective, may be ineffective and those for which the evidence is inconclusive.