Mobility hubs: an overview – Mark Dowey, Senior Development Officer, CoMo UK An overview of what a mobility hub is; its place in current and future policy instruments and some extant examples Gearing up: using data to drive modal shift – Susan Lathan, Account Director, Mobilityways Making walking and cycling the first choice for commuters requires sustained investment in world-class infrastructure. But how can large employers ensure they’re maximising results with the limited funding they have? • By collecting data • Building a business case for active travel infrastructure • Implementing change • Measuring modal shift 532,214 individual employee postcodes have been analysed using Mobilityways’ Scoping tool, revealing 40% could walk and cycle to work. Data-based interventions can make Zero Carbon Commuting a reality.
Active Train Stations – Natalie Gravett, Transport Planner, Arup With the current climate crisis, it is time to reframe our understanding of active mobility as a solution for short journeys only. When combined with public transport, almost any journey can be an active one. This study takes a holistic systems approach in investigating all components of an active-train journey: the rail service, the station, the active travel network and the surrounding neighbourhood. By improving the experience, accessibility and quality of each of these components we can promote a modal shift that involves walking and cycling to and from train stations. From examining regions and countries where active-train trips are more prevalent than in the UK, we shine a light on where the deficiencies in our mobility systems and urban realms lie. Informed by international best practice, this study sets out 20 actions for railway operators, station managers, and local authorities to promote active and healthy journeys for middle and longer-distance travel. This study also includes a proof-of-concept for a machine learning regression model to help determine the most important factors influencing the propensity to cycle around train stations. This helps to enable the prioritisation of actions, and a more tailored approach to improving feeder cycle networks to train stations. The co-benefits for health and wellbeing and thriving communities are also explored, highlighting that with the right investment and coordination, the active-train combination can truly be the best of both.
1B: Presentations on:
Living well locally: a 20 minute neighbourhood vision and route map for Drymen and East Loch Lomond – Stuart Guzinski, Project Coordinator, Forth Environment Link and Richard Boddington, Secretary, Drymen Community Development Trust 20 minute neighbourhoods are places designed around people’s daily needs. In urban settings they deliver improved liveability and resilience in the face of the climate emergency. FEL explored how the concept could be adapted to a rural context by working with communities in Drymen and east Loch Lomond. The resulting learnings fed into a best practice approach, meaning the process could be replicated, adapted and improved on by more communities in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Active Travel Transformation Project - Luke Macauley, project manager, Transport Scotland The Scottish Government's commitment to Active Travel has been underscored recently by significant budget increases - the Bute House Agreement committed to increase the AT budget to at least £320m pa, or 10% of the total transport budget by 2024/25.
There is agreement that existing delivery models will need to evolve to maximise this opportunity. The Transformation Project will be developing proposals for an alternative system of delivery to match the ambition of this record investment in Active Travel.
Inclusion and social prescription in walking and cycling activities – Jenni Murray, Cycling UK “I cannot tell you how liberating this feels for me!” Sian, resident of Graemsay in Orkney, had never been able to ride a bike due to her health conditions. The inclusion of adaptive bikes within the Cycling UK Rural Connections fleet meant she could take an e-trike to try. 300 miles away, The Inverclyde Bothy’s “Health Walks on prescription” service supported over 90 individuals signposted from a range of health services through strong partnership working. Our projects provide practical examples of how to generate effective change for people with a range of health conditions, work in partnership and inspire joy through walking and cycling.
1C: Workshop - Ageing well in rural communities - Jess Read Bette Davis famously once said “Old age ain’t no place for sissies”. Later life can pose real challenges with the loss of a partner and friends, and loss of mobility and independence. This can be particularly acute in rural communities which are highly car dependent and where the most vulnerable older people are least likely to own a car.
What if the challenges of ageing well in rural communities could also be the key to unlocking prosperity in rural areas? Could active travel be the key to this? This interactive workshop will throw open some blue sky thinking and invite participants to contribute their expertise and insights to explore the questions:
What does ageing well in rural communities look like?
What is the key to a healthy and happy long life?
Could active travel help rural communities thrive?
Afternoon Breakout: Choose one session from 2A & 2B
2A: Presentations on:
Free Bikes for Schoolchildren - Pilot Showcase– Craig Burn, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and Free Bikes Board Member The Free Bikes for Schoolchildren pilots programme fulfills a 2021 manifesto commitment to provide free bikes for all school aged children who cannot afford one. 8 pilots were launched within the first 100 days of the new Government testing various aspects of delivery including targeting, ownership types and supply chain engagement.
Health Ebikes: the role of active travel in healthcare – Emma Thomas, Senior Project Officer, Forth Environment Link The Ebikes for Health project was a collaborative pilot project evaluating the effectiveness of using ebikes to improve the fitness of patients undergoing bowel surgery. The project aimed to offer patients an eBike (battery assisted bicycle) loan around the time of surgery as a novel and potentially accessible form of travel and physical activity. This may support them to improve fitness to help with preparation and recovery from surgery and treatment. The project was delivered by Forth Environment Link, NHS Forth valley and the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC) at the University of Edinburgh between summer 2020 and summer 2021. The evaluation conducted by PAHRC was in place from the outset of the project and aimed to generate learning around the feasibility of the project, the delivery, and the impact on patients.
Why we need to walk more – Bruce Whyte, Glasgow Centre for Population Health This project is based on an evidence review of walking, tailored to the Scottish context. The evidence gathering and synthesis has been undertaken by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health in collaboration with Living Streets. Walking has many physical health benefits, can improve mood, help combat anxiety and depression, boost confidence and provide independence. It is simple, convenient and affordable and can take place anywhere – on streets in our city centres and in our local communities, in parks, out in the country and as part of other journeys. Walking can also contribute to wider societal goals. Replacing short car journeys by walking can help to cut carbon emissions, to reduce air pollution, to alleviate congestion, and journeys on foot can encourage greater social interaction and can benefit the local economy. In this project we explore the evidence about walking in Scotland: its benefits for people of all ages, the current policy context, factors that make it easy or more difficult to walk and the impact of Covid-19. In our conclusions we make recommendations for practice, policy and future research. Delegates should gain a good understanding of who walks, for what purposes and how often in Scotland. The multiple health, social and evironmental co-benefits of walking for people of all ages will be laid out. Recommendations for policy and practice to encourage more walking will be made. Suggestions for future research, better data and improved evidence will be put forward. 2B: Presentations on:
Strengthening Communities for Race Equality Scotland – Madhavi Apparel, Senior Community Worker, SCOREscotland PEDAL and THRIVE SCOREscotland Pedal and Thrive project (2021/22) is funded by city of Edinburgh Council, Smarter Choices and Smarter Places Paths for All’s sustainable transport behaviour change programme. As a part of the action plan SCOREscotland delivered led rides for women, Adult training for Women, Dr.Bike and Bike maintenance events. We shall be showing some stories of the Women who learnt to pedal and came on rides during past year.
Taking steps to better health – Julie Patterson, Development Manager, Pilton Community Health Project In Mar 21, PCHP launched its Community Wellbeing Programme directly responding to the emerging and growing impacts of the pandemic on communities already affected by health inequalities. The City of Edinburgh Council has been delivering Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programmes since 2015. Over that time, the Council have been able to experiment and try new approaches to behavioural change around sustainable transport. Some initiatives have focused on the health inequalities which exist in our communities, and aim to build better health outcomes for service beneficiaries. The Council have been interested in supporting social prescribing with active travel as ways to improve health and wellbeing for some time. Our new Council Business Plan cites health and wellbeing as one of the core aims for the Council’s delivery of services going forwards, which is closely aligned with this initiative we are supporting with Smarter Choices funding, delivered by PCHP. The Community Wellbeing Programme is underpinned by the Five Ways to Wellbeing: connecting with people, being active, take notice, learn and give back and aligns with the aims of this fund, the needs of the people in the area we work in, and overall provides an effective, creative and enjoyable way for people to reconnect after the pandemic through accessible activities that are not labelled therapeutic and therefore often reach more people.
In early 2021, we realised common aims in seeking to support people who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and there was a way for us to work together to develop more positive attitudes towards walking and cycling, which is a key outcome for our use of the Smarter Choices grant from Paths for All. As our conversations developed, PCHP suggested focusing solely on walking, due to the limited number and scope of local cycling groups, and as such “Taking Steps to Better Health” was formed. New engagement methods planned for the coming year include walks inspired by the Enchanted Forest with light and interactivity to support and normalise walking in less favourable weather; mapping new local walks; developing green prescribing as part of the Lothian Green Prescribing Network; working together on the development of the 20 minute neighbourhood in Granton; and ultimately to build health and wellbeing amongst service users living in many of our city’s areas of multiple deprivation. Further learning around the theme of social prescribing has been possible through this joint-work by both council, PCHP workers including Community Link Workers, local GPs involved with Lothian's Green Prescribing Network, and the Locality Public Health Practitioner. The partnership working has greatly helped to develop knowledge and build stronger roots in delivering community-based support to encourage more active travel by a greater range of people in our communities, and most importantly delivering person-led services to people who are most in need. We can share our learning on how to reach people (often labelled harder to reach), what worked well, how we tailored activities based on what people told us, and a few surprises along the way.
Free bike storage research - Cycling Scotland (Presentation synopsis tbc)
2C: Workshop - Is it anti-social to socialise? How can we help everyone feel safe and welcome in public spaces - Living Streets (synopsis tbc)