What is Active Travel?

A better way to get around

We all need to get from A to B, whether it’s going to work, school, the shops, or visiting friends. But too often, roads are congested, short journeys are made by car, and walking or cycling doesn’t feel like a safe or easy option.

That’s why we’re developing the Forest of Dean Active Travel Strategy, a plan to make walking, wheeling (wheelchairs, mobility scooters, buggies or scooters), and cycling safer, more accessible, and more attractive for everyday trips.

By making Active Travel a real alternative to driving, we can create cleaner air, safer streets, and healthier communities, but we need your help to shape the future.

Why do we need an Active Travel Strategy?

Like many areas, the Forest of Dean is heavily car-dependent. In 2021, nearly half (49%) of journeys under five miles in towns and cities were made by car, even though many could be walked, wheeled, or cycled. We know that many people want to choose Active Travel, but they face challenges such as busy roads, limited safe crossings, poorly maintained cycle routes, and a lack of connected footpaths and wheeling-friendly spaces.

By investing in better infrastructure, we can make Active Travel a practical and attractive choice, bringing huge benefits to individuals, communities, and the environment:

Health & Wellbeing – Regular walking and cycling reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and stress.
Less Traffic & Safer Roads – Fewer cars mean safer streets for everyone.
Save Money – Walking and cycling cost far less than running a car.
Better for the Environment – Transport is a major source of carbon emissions; choosing Active Travel helps tackle climate change.
Thriving Towns & Communities – More people walking and cycling means busier local shops, more social interaction, and safer public spaces.

Recognising the challenges of the Forest of Dean

We understand that the Forest of Dean’s landscape presents some unique challenges for Active Travel. Our district is hilly, rural, and heavily wooded, with roads and paths that may not always be ideal for walking, wheeling, or cycling.

Steep inclines - Some areas are more physically demanding to walk or cycle.
Weather & surfaces - Paths can be muddy, uneven, or poorly maintained.
Rural roads - Many roads are narrow, winding, and dominated by vehicles.

While these challenges can’t be changed overnight, the strategy looks to find practical solutions, such as improving key walking and cycling routes, ensuring accessibility for all users, and making roads safer through better infrastructure.

What Is the District Council doing?

We are working on a strategy to improve walking, wheeling, and cycling across the district by:

Identifying priority routes - Creating safe, accessible connections within and between towns.
Using data & local knowledge - Mapping key travel patterns to make sure routes meet community needs.
Ensuring accessibility for all - Helping to ensure wide paths, smooth, and designed for people of all ages and abilities.
Consulting residents - We need your input to make sure the network works for everyone.

Our goal is to develop a high-quality Active Travel network that makes it easier and safer to walk, wheel, and cycle for daily journeys.

Isn’t this expensive?

The strategy forms an early-stage exploration of possibilities, intended to identify potential future developments and guide resource allocation and funding efforts.

Views gathered during consultation will be instrumental when we make bids to the government for funding to carry out ‘active travel’ improvements in the future.

Investing in Active Travel is far more cost-effective than road expansion. In fact, research shows that money spent on Active Travel results in far greater financial returns in health, economic, and environmental benefits, a far better return than road-building projects.

Fewer cars on the road equals less congestion and better air quality.
Healthier lifestyles equals lower NHS costs from obesity and inactivity.
Reduced emissions equals a cleaner, greener district for future generations.

How long will it take?

We know that building a high-quality Active Travel network takes time. While funding levels will determine the speed of progress, the government has committed to long-term investment in walking and cycling infrastructure.

We are taking the first steps now, identifying key routes, gathering feedback, and planning improvements, but real change won’t happen overnight. Even the Netherlands, famous for its cycling infrastructure, has taken over 50 years to develop its network.

By starting now and working together, we can make the Forest of Dean a safer, healthier, and more sustainable place to travel.

Have your say!

We want to hear from you! Your input will help us design better routes and make Active Travel a real choice for more people.

Complete our survey to share your travel habits and feedback on our plans.
Stay involved – Follow updates on our website and social media.

Together, we can create a district that works better for everyone, so let’s make it happen!