active travel

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

travel that involves physical activity as an intrinsic part of the journey, most commonly walking and cycling but also including wheeling for those using mobility aids, running, and other human-powered forms of movement; active travel policy aims to integrate physical activity into daily travel patterns rather than relying on dedicated exercise sessions, with substantial co-benefits for public health, air quality, carbon emissions, road congestion, and the vitality of street life; investment in walking and cycling infrastructure — including protected cycle lanes, safe pedestrian crossings, wayfinding, and secure cycle parking — is among the most cost-effective transport and health interventions available to urban authorities; countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark have built active travel into their urban fabric over decades, achieving high modal shares for cycling that deliver measurable population health dividends