Study shows benefits of temporary walking and cycling measures

By Sustrans | 20 December 2021 | TAGS: Research and learning, Walking, Cycling

Launched in May 2020, Spaces for People provided emergency funding to local authorities, transport partnerships and health boards.

The funding was made available to create spaces for people to physically distance during the pandemic and to improve road safety for people walking, wheeling and cycling.

An initial evaluation of the measures which were put in place has revealed:

• a 25% increase in pedestrian use where Spaces for People measures (such as pavement widening) were introduced, compared with control sites
• 50% of local people support the 20mph limits introduced in Perth & Kinross, Dundee, Stirling and Angus, whilst a further 27% feel neutrally about them.
• 48% of survey respondents in Perth & Kinross, Dundee, Stirling and Angus reported an increase in the time they spend walking for leisure and exercise.
• 94% of survey respondents in Aberdeen City agreed that the Spaces for People measures have made it easier to walk or cycle.
• 2 million people live within ten minutes’ walk of Spaces for People measures
• 178 interventions were installed within the first two months of the programme and 316 were installed by the end of the first six months

Find out more about the measures success and how they are working to make the measures permanent on the Sustrans website here.