The Department for Transport has published a review looking at how effective different ways of encouraging the public to use active travel and other sustainable modes of transport are. The review was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research. The findings are interesting in the light of recent debates around active travel infrastructure which has shown there is a need for better communication and understanding between the parties involved.

The research aimed to answer the following questions:

1. What is the effect of interventions encouraging people to switch from using cars to using public transport or active transport?
2. Which groups are most likely to switch, and to what forms of transport?
3. Is there evidence of unintended consequences of interventions to encourage mode shift?

Switching away from car use

The research found that reducing car use by reducing parking availability or introducing city centre access restrictions, for example, is effective but works best when public or active transport alternatives are put in place first. Appealing to environmental or health benefits can have a short-term effect but behaviour change does not appear to be sustained when measured some months after campaigns. It is not clear from the evidence whether this is because of the nature of the messages or the difficulties capturing consistent data on carbon emissions and health benefits to feed back to local residents and attribute to the schemes.

Switching to active travel

The most successful active travel interventions focus on short and simple journeys. Successful interventions to encourage a switch to cycling include separating cycle routes from other vehicles and providing opportunities to try out cycling. Initiatives supporting people with the purchase and maintenance of bicycles are also effective. Allowing people to trial the use of electric assisted bicycles (e-bikes) also results in lower car mileage and an increase in cycling. The impact of bicycle share schemes in cities depends on existing travel choices.

How can we get the public on board for the transformation of active travel infrastructure in the UK? Take part in the conversation on CIHT Connect here.

In cities like London and Montreal, such schemes have tended to attract users to switch from local public transport or walking, rather than cars, but still result in a reduction in carbon emissions. Schemes to encourage active travel can encounter community concerns about personal and road safety. The evidence shows the importance of community-centred design to tackle concerns, but community involvement must be sustained to have long-term impact.

Switching to public transport

Public transport infrastructure is most effective when it is well-integrated with existing transport provision, is highly visible, perceived as safe to use both in terms of personal safety from features such as enhanced lighting as well as the mode of transport itself. It should also compare favourably to the cost and convenience of driving. People are most likely to maintain a switch in the long-term if encouraged to monitor their transport behaviour against social norms, and they respond well to messages highlighting stories of successful switches. This can be supported by making journeys simpler with smart ticketing and travel planning apps together with financial incentives through the apps.

Which groups are most likely to switch?

Most evidence reflects the location of interventions in urban or suburban settings. There is very limited evidence for rural areas or how to enable mode switches in these settings.

Looking at different groups of the population, younger people appear less likely to drive, perhaps because they are more likely to live in urban areas and less likely to own a car. Each generation is also driving less than their predecessors as they age. Although younger people are more likely to make a mode switch, older individuals are more likely to sustain any changes that they make. Deprived communities benefit from active transport initiatives, especially where they are involved in decision-making about the design. Making active and public transport more affordable and accessible to unemployed people also supported them to secure jobs. Women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to switch to active travel and evidence for other population groups such as older or disabled people is very limited. Further exploration is needed to understand their needs for future schemes.

The full research paper is available on the Government's website here.