Physical environment: active travel and traffic

Active travel

The 2021 report on Transport and Travel in Scotland provides the results of the Transport and Travel-related questions (including the travel diary) asked in the Scottish Household Survey. The 2021 (and 2020) data are not comparable with previous years, because of changes in methodology due to COVID-19.

The car remained the most popular mode of transport in 2021 with 50% of journeys  made as a car/van driver or as a passenger. Public transport was used for 5% of journeys, which may have been affected by COVID-19. Walking and cycling together accounted for 32%.

Scotland’s National Transport Strategy 2 describes inequalities in access to transport, and includes reducing inequalities as one of its priority areas. For example, people with lower incomes are more likely to take the bus than those on higher incomes. In 2021, 12% of adults in the lowest income quintile took the bus at least 2 or 3 times a week, compared to 6% in the highest income quintile (Transport and Travel in Scotland social survey tables, Table 28a). However, the strategy notes that, in areas of high social deprivation, public transport can be expensive and scarce, which limits access to amenities.

In addition to Transport Scotland, Sustrans publishes the Hands Up Scotland Survey which explores how pupils across Scotland travel to school and nursery. Results for 2022 found that active travel to school decreased from 51% in 2020 to 49% in 2022, though remains higher than the pre-pandemic levels from 2015-2019.

In 2022, around 66% of primary school pupils in Scotland used active travel modes (walking, cycling, scooter/skate or park & stride) to get to school. However levels of active travel were much lower among secondary pupils (48%). Walking was by far the most common mode of active travel (Hands Up Scotland, 2022 – National Results Excel sheet, table 2.3).

ScotPHO's Profiles Tool provides data modes of travel to work and school, by local authority.

Traffic

High levels of car use in Scotland make a significant contribution to air and noise pollution, and can also discourage active travel due to safety concerns. Car ownership is highest in the least deprived areas, but those living on lower incomes are more likely to live in high traffic areas and to disproportionately experience the negative impact of traffic. As well as affecting local air quality, traffic emissions are an important factor driving climate change.

The Transport and Travel in Scotland report includes travel diary data on the number of driver journeys delayed by congestion.