You’ve no doubt heard the phrase ‘active travel’ but you may not know exactly what it means.  Put simply, it is the term used when people make everyday journeys by walking, wheeling or cycling. Wheeling could be wheelchairs, pushing the pram, or skateboarding.  

We say everyday journeys because the overall aim is to encourage us to be more active when it comes to short trips – usually under 5 miles – such as walking to the shops, taking the kids to school, wheeling to an appointment or cycling to the station to catch a commuter train.

Active travel has numerous benefits for all of us, both on a personal level and for the communities in which we live, work and play.  There is growing evidence from across the UK and into Europe, showing the gains made, particularly in smaller towns similar in size and population to St Andrews.