Government not on track to meet walking targets

New data released today (28 August) suggests the Government is not on track to meet its walking targets. 

The Government published its second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS2) in July 2022, aimed at making walking and cycling the natural choices for short journeys. In it, there is a target of 365 walking ‘stages’  per person per year. However, the National Travel Survey 2023, published today, shows that in 2023, people in England walked just 325 stages. This is up by only seven stages from the previous year, and still below the 347 stages achieved in 2018.  

The Government also has a target in the CWIS2 for 55 per cent of primary school aged children walking to school by 2025. The new data shows that the number of 5–10-year-olds who normally walk to school has remained the same as the previous year at 49 per cent. 

Today’s data reveals that over a fifth (22 per cent) of parents of children who do not currently walk to school said that safer roads, for example with slower speeds, less traffic, more considerate driving, would encourage them to walk to school more often. Nearly one in ten (9 per cent) said more safer crossing points would help them choose to walk more. 

Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive of Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking said: 

“It’s clear there’s work needed to help get more of us walking and wheeling. The data backs up what we already know: slower speeds, safer crossings and car-free zones where people live, work and go to school can help us all walk and wheel more.

“If the targets are to be met, the Government needs to invest in making streets both safer and more welcoming for everyone, and that includes an end to pavement parking.”

Living Streets has been working to help the Government reach their walk to school target by running its Walk to School Outreach programme, which supported 1,121 schools in 2023/24.

The Active Travel England funded project sees schools participate in WOW – the walk to school challenge – and involves the charity working with schools and local authorities to improve school streets so they are safer and more accessible.

During the last financial year, the Walk to School Outreach project created 9.3 million new walking trips and removed over 1.8 million car kilometres from England’s roads.  

Catherine continues:

“The success of our walk to school programme shows the value of investing in walking. The benefits of walking to school include healthier and happier children and fewer cars outside the school gates.

“As pupils in England head back to school, we need a commitment to long-term support for walk to school initiatives, so that more children can enjoy the benefits of being active on the journey to school.”