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Getting Scotland Walking Briefing
Date: September 2022
Category: Report
Author: GCPH and Living Streets
Though the significance and benefits of walking are increasingly recognised in policy, our sedentary lives, obesogenic environment, car-dominated transport system, issues of safety in public spaces and socio-economic inequalities all contribute to lower-than-optimal levels of physical activity and walking in Scotland.
Based on a rapid review of policy and evidence, the report describes walking trends in Scotland, the health and societal benefits of walking, the relevant policy context, issues which discourage walking, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on walking.
It outlines the following key points:
- Walking remains an important sustainable mode of transport despite sharp historic declines
- Walking provides multiple health, social and environmental benefits in our lives
- There are significant inequalities in who walks in Scotland
- Considerable health benefits would result from tackling inequalities in walking
- National policies are strongly supportive of investing in projects to support walking
- Enhanced effort is needed at local and national levels to increase walking in Scotland
- More work is needed to evaluate investments which aim to boost walking
This report also offers recommendations about how to increase walking levels in Scotland and highlights areas where further research, data and evidence are needed.
View an accompanying infographic here