‘New data tool will help policy makers transform lives through active travel’

A data tool designed to help policy makers to spend active travel funding where it is most needed has been launched by Sustrans. The Walking and Cycling Index Data Tool holds interactive Index data across two dashboards - ‘Public Behaviours’ and ‘Attitudes’ - and allows for comparison, segmenting and analysis, said the charity.

Multiple filters can be applied to the tool, so data can be segmented by age, gender, disability, ethnic group, socio-economic group, city and member authority, said Tim Burns, Sustrans’ head of policy. “This functionality will profoundly improve how anyone can access the localised data relevant to cities and communities, making application in research and policy planning far easier,” he said.

“In providing the essential, localised data to researchers and policy makers, the Data Tool helps clarify in which areas and groups active travel is in-demand (and too often a struggle to access), and also where no action is needed.”

Since 2014, Sustrans has collected data from 18 UK and Irish cities, to understand why people do and don’t, can and can’t, walk, wheel and cycle where they live.

This ‘Walking and Cycling Index’ is the UK’s largest survey on public behaviours and attitudes towards walking and cycling, and is a primary data source for the sector, said Burns.

“Insights from the Index reveal enormous support for active travel infrastructure, and other actions that support walking, wheeling and cycling. This support is often greatest among groups who are more likely to be disadvantaged by society.”

To date, Sustrans has only published summaries of Index data through city and national reports. “The new tool will help policy makers understand trends, compare places and importantly shine a light on what disadvantaged communities think, including women, disabled people and people of colour,” said Burns.

“This is an opportunity for those who can make change to grasp the Sustrans Index Data Tool now and do their own investigating, to search the available data and discover how and where action is needed in their cities and regions.”

Walking and Cycling Index Tool