Walk Wheel Cycle Trust Scotland

Photo of a young woman standing with her bike on a segregated cycle lane in Glasgow city centre.

Photos of three young women walking along a pedestrianised street in Dundee.

Photo of two school pupils, a girl and a boy, cycling on a segregated cycle lane in Stirling and approaching a road crossing.

Photo of a mother pushing her twins in a double buggy on a canal towpath in Edinburgh.

Women and girls across Scotland and the rest of the UK continue to miss out on the benefits of #ActiveTravel, often because routes feel unsafe 🚴‍♀️🚶‍♀️👩‍🦼

For #InternationalWomensDay we've shared some of the steps we're taking to make the #NationalCycleNetwork more inclusive 👉 buff.ly/qFu11KV

A photo of two girls cycling across a main road in a cycle lane. In the background there is colourful street art on the side of a residential building. In the distance there is a person crossing the road on a powered wheelchair.

And we need safer, more connected routes that take women where they need to go.

Because when women and girls feel safer, everyone benefits ✨

Look out for the Scotland #WalkingCyclingIndex 2025 on 17 March.

Find your nearest city's report now 🔗 buff.ly/5uKsx4B

Photo of a woman smiling and wearing a bright blue jacket, cycling a recumbent cycle through a gateway on a traffic-free path.

Too many women are missing out on the benefits cycling brings to our health, our independence and our pockets – as well as access to education, work opportunities and nature ✨

We need to empower women and girls to see themselves as cyclists 💪

Photo of a woman walking her bike with a wooden front basket along the pavement, on a residential street.

But it’s not a question of will. Over 1/4 of women say they do not currently cycle but would like to.

Road safety, personal safety, and safety cycling with children are some of the main barriers women face.

Social and cultural barriers also impact on women’s travel choices 🚳

Photo of a woman standing with her bike on the pavement by a city read. Traffic lights and a bus are in the background. To the right, a male cyclist is parking his bike at a stand.

It's time to tackle the cycling #GenderGap ♀️

On #InternationalWomensDay we want to raise awareness of the barriers that stop women getting on bikes.

Our upcoming #WalkingCyclingIndex for Scotland reveals the number of women cycling in our cities is still half that of men 🚴‍♀️

What are parties planning for cycling and active travel?

Join our online Election Hustings in Scotland and Wales to hear their vision and ask your questions live.

📅 14 April | Scotland
📅 15 April | Wales

Scotland: cyclinguk.org/scotland2026
Wales: cyclinguk.org/wales2026

The Walking and Cycling Index in Scotland is funded by Transport Scotland 🚶‍♀️🧑‍🦽🚴‍♀️

The Walking and Cycling Index Walk Wheel Cycle Trust's Walking and Cycling Index (formerly Bike Life) is the UK and Ireland's biggest ever study of walking, wheeling and cycling in urban areas. Download the report now.

With thanks to our Index partners 💪

@aberdeencc.bsky.social
@dundeecitycouncil.bsky.social
@edinburghcouncil.bsky.social
@fifecouncil.bsky.social
@glasgowcc.bsky.social
@highland.gov.uk
@perthandkinross.bsky.social
@stirlingcouncil.bsky.social

walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-index

A photograph of a man on a bike standing stationary, looking to his right and smiling. He is wearing a blue helmet. The photo shows a main road in a city with a segregated cycle lane and pavement alongside it.

Look out for our aggregated #WalkingCyclingIndex2025 for Scotland, launching on 17 March 👀

Pulling together data from our 8 cities, our Scotland report paints a national urban picture of how Scots get around their local area - and what they want to see improved 📢

Today we launch the #WalkingCyclingIndex2025 🚀

Our 8 Scottish city reports explore:
⌛ How residents move around
💬 Public perceptions towards #ActiveTravel
❤️‍🩹 Health, environmental + economic benefits
📈 Evidence to inform policy + investment

More: walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-index

When you're driving, slow down around people on bikes. Don't take any risks. Leave space for a life. #GiveCycleSpace

Photo of the Scottish Parliament, with a white outline drawn around the building's silhouette, and a yellow graphic element against a purple background. Text reads: Our manifesto for Holyrood 2026.

Through smart investment and policies, we can make walking, wheeling and cycling possible for more people.

Because when we change how we travel, we change everything. Our health, our wellbeing and our world.

Find out more 🔗 walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/holyrood26

Did you miss our #Holyrood26 manifesto launch? 🗳️

We’re calling on our next government to prioritise #ActiveTravel.

Our proposals focus on 5 areas:

💰 Funding
🚸 Schools
♿ Accessibility
👣 Pavements
🔀 #NationalCycleNetwork

Winchburgh is part of our #FRideDays Bike Bus project, sponsored by #Schwalbe.

It supports community-led bike buses across the UK and currently includes 5 in Scotland ✨

Meaning more smiles and healthier miles 🤩

Find out more 👇 buff.ly/Fvy89Le

#TogetherWeRide

Wondering what a Bike Bus is? 🤔

Imagine a group of people who ride to school together... it's a fun way to make the benefits of cycling a regular part of the week 🌈

There’s nothing like cycling with friends to get the day off to the best start.

#FRideDays | #Schwalbe

Fiona Hyslop MSP and Fiona MacLeod from Walk Wheel Cycle Trust meeting with members of Winchburgh FRideDays Bike Bus.

We're helping pupils in West Lothian cycle to school 🚲

Last Friday our Director Fiona MacLeod and local MSP @fionahyslop.bsky.social met the Winchburgh #FRideDays Bike Bus to hear their story 👇

What began a year ago as a small group now has up to 80 pupils & parents cycling together 💪

61% of the Scottish public agree the #NationalCycleNetwork is a valuable national asset 💚

Currently 44% of Scotland’s population lives within 1km of the Network. Let's make it go further ↗️

📊 NCN Scotland Impact Report 2025

A cyclist travelling through Coalie Park by the Water of Leith in Edinburgh.

The #NationalCycleNetwork is ready to connect Scotland.

An estimated 43 million trips were taken on the Network in Scotland in 2024.

This saved 2,050 tonnes of CO2 emissions 🌍

And created £61m in economic benefit 💰

📊 NCN Scotland Impact Report 2025

Square graphic with a purple border. Text reads: "5. Connect Scotland via the National Cycle Network". Beneath the text and inside a ripple graphic is a sticker cutout image of a series of three blue walking and cycling signposts, including the locations Grangemouth and Stirling.

We need to connect Scotland 🔀

By investing in the #NationalCycleNetwork we can create a network of safe walking, wheeling and cycling routes across the country.

Read our full manifesto: walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/holyrood26

#Holyrood26

A woman on a mobility scooter, crossing a residential road via a dropped kerb.

Meanwhile, 79% of disabled people in the UK would find creating a national Pavement Fund to maintain and improve pavements useful to walk or wheel more.

📊Disabled Citizens’ Inquiry 2023

A man walking his dog along the newly improved canal towpath in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh.

74% of Scottish city residents want better pavement accessibility, like level surfaces and dropped kerbs at crossings.

📊Scotland Walking and Cycling Index 2023

Square graphic with a purple border. Text reads: "4. Set up a Pavement Fund". Beneath the text and inside a ripple graphic is a sticker cutout image of a little girl holding hands with her grandparents, walking together and smiling.

Being able to reach essential local services should not be a luxury.

By setting up a Pavement Fund, we can maintain and improve access to our public places 🐾

Read our full manifesto: walkwheelcycletrust.org/holyrood26

#Holyrood26

Square graphic with a purple border. A quote reads: "I like walking around independently like a sighted person, but not all the time I can manage it. I think when the council or organisations have meetings, they should ask some blind people to join in the meeting to give advice."

Disabled people need a fairer deal 👩‍🦯

65% of disabled people support giving funding to councils to create Access Panels to inform & shape transport.

52% would likely participate in a paid Access Panel.

Joe from Edinburgh shares his thoughts 👇

📊 Transforming Mobility 2025

Square graphic with a purple border. Text reads: "3. Empower Access Panels". Beneath the text and inside a ripple graphic is a sticker cutout image of a smiling woman in a pink jacket, using a powered wheelchair.

Too many people face challenges getting around their local area.

We need to empower Access Panels to ensure our transport networks work for everyone ♿

Read our full manifesto: walkwheelcycletrust.org/holyrood26

#Holyrood26

🤩 🤩 🤩

Square graphic with a purple border. A quote reads: "I don't feel safe on my bike in the town centre, or riding to town. My dream town would have better places to ride bikes and walk, with more trees and less cars as well."

Children want to walk, wheel and cycle more 🙋‍♀️

84% of children in Scotland want more traffic-free paths and quiet routes.

Meanwhile 74% say fewer cars on our streets would help them cycle.

Take it from Hazel in Dumfries & Galloway 👇

📊 Children's Walking and Cycling Index

Square graphic with a purple border. Text reads: "2. Enable active journeys to school". Beneath the text and inside a ripple graphic is a sticker cutout image of a young girl in school uniform on her bike.

Pupils should be able to walk, wheel, cycle or scoot to school safely 🚸

We need to make this an option for every child in Scotland.

Read our full manifesto: walkwheelcycletrust.org/holyrood26

#Holyrood26

People cycling in winter on a segregated cycling path by a road in Granton, Edinburgh.

Investing in #ActiveTravel benefits everyone ❤️‍🩹

Each year walking, wheeling & cycling in Scotland's cities creates £1.1 billion in economic benefit, whilst saving the NHS £53.6 million by preventing 4,251 serious long-term health conditions.

📊 Walking and Cycling Index 2023

Square graphic with a purple border. Text reads: "1. Boost investment in active travel". Beneath the text and inside a ripple graphic is a sticker cutout image of three young women walking together and chatting.

We need to boost investment by committing 10% of the transport budget to support walking, wheeling and cycling 🔋 📈

Read our full manifesto: walkwheelcycletrust.org/holyrood26

#Holyrood26

Square graphic with a purple border. Text reads: "Show your support. Speak to candidates. Share this post. walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/holyrood26". To the right is a dark green map of Scotland.

Show your support by lending your voice 📢

For our health, our wellbeing and our world.

Find out more: walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/holyrood26