Active Travel is the term used for walking, wheeling or cycling to get somewhere, such as travelling to school, work, shops or local services. These are often called “purposeful journeys”. It does not include walking or cycling done purely for leisure, although improved routes can also make recreational trips easier and more enjoyable.
Active Travel can form part of a longer journey too, for example walking or wheeling to a bus stop or train station before continuing your journey by public transport.
Monmouthshire County Council’s Active Travel Strategy focuses on local journeys of up to three miles. The aim is to make walking, wheeling and cycling the natural first choice for shorter trips by improving routes and connections to key destinations within our communities.
Increasing levels of Active Travel brings many benefits. Walking, wheeling and cycling regularly can improve physical health, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life. It can also help reduce travel costs, such as fuel and parking expenses. By choosing Active Travel for more everyday journeys, we can reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, lower noise levels and cut carbon emissions, helping us respond to the challenges of climate change.