Active Travel Scotland Changemaker

Active travel refers to journeys made in physically active ways, such as cycling, walking, and wheeling. The benefits are far-reaching and profound. It can improve our mental and physical well-being, reduce congestion on roads and contribute towards Net Zero. Plus, active travel is a much more cost-effective way of getting around for local journeys. I am passionate about the belief that the provision of high-quality infrastructure, coupled with initiatives to promote active travel, can change people’s lives for the better.

When I first started my career in transport planning over 25 years ago, the provision of active travel infrastructure was either non-existent or an afterthought, with cycle routes ending abruptly and not focused on the needs of users. So, it’s not surprising that a lack of usable infrastructure is one of the main barriers to preventing active travel. Thankfully, we have much greater recognition and emphasis on active travel today.

Collaboration with communities is fundamental to the success of active travel schemes. Early, ongoing, and open community engagement, including co-design sessions, is at the heart of our projects. As a multidisciplinary company, WSP has the skill sets required to deliver higher-quality schemes designed with every user in mind, from planning and appraisal to design and delivery on the ground.

However, successful active travel projects are not just about high-quality infrastructure: our teams work with clients and communities on initiatives to encourage longer-term behavioural change. WSP appreciates that every project is unique, and we tailor our approach according to the requirements of each area and the local community.

Innovation is essential for the continued success of active travel projects. For example, the WSP team has recent experience in the design of Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (CYCLOPS) junctions, Copenhagen crossings and floating bus stops for the Greater Cambridge Partnership as well as rural greenways for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians.

For Falkirk Council, we used leading-edge virtual consultation rooms, including route visualisations, to gain greater participation and understanding when engaging with local communities in scheme development.

WSP supported the Department for Transport (DfT) in the update of their Active Mode Appraisal Toolkit. The WSP team has developed our innovative tools for carbon appraisals to estimate net carbon impact and we apply the Gender Equality Toolkit in Transport (GET-IT) to help create gender-inclusive transport systems.

The most successful active travel schemes are the ones that receive the most engagement and support from local communities. Working together towards a shared goal of improving access and mobility, making the local environment better, and delivering transformational change is, to me, both challenging but hugely rewarding. I am passionate about growing active travel in Scotland by helping clients implement innovative, high-quality schemes and initiatives that increase the uptake of active travel, improve the public realm for the benefit of local communities and support Net Zero targets.