Health, wellbeing and new cycling infrastructure: A mixed methods study of health, wellbeing, and health economic impacts of large-scale new cycling infrastructure in three English regions outside London.
Why study cycling infrastructure?
Active travel, such as walking, cycling and wheeling, are associated with important health and environmental benefits. However, less than 1% of the daily distance people travel in Britain is cycled, although in 1952, this figure was 11%. In other European countries and cities, cycling has partially rebounded, and there would be large health gains if England can follow suit.
Building new high quality cycling infrastructure has been central to the rebirth of cycling. London has recently built higher-quality dedicated cycling infrastructure, and the city now makes up 17% of km cycled in Britain (up from 10% in 1993). New national design guidance is based on London’s approach, and other city regions are creating major funding packages from devolved budgets. However, London is quite different from the rest of the country and we don’t know the extent what effect similar infrastructure will have outside London, especially when looking at groups who are under-represented in cycling in the UK, such as disabled people or people from minoritised ethnic groups.
This study will examine whether the positive results in London, such as a £1 billion health economic benefit from a £100 million investment in Outer London, can be replicated in other English regions (Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire). These regions plan to build extensive new cycle routes following the updated national design guidance, more ambitious than previous standards.
Aim of the study
This research will study how new cycling infrastructure introduced in Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire affects people’s travel behaviours, health and wellbeing. This is to say, our key research question is: What are the impacts on travel behaviour, health and wellbeing of new, high quality cycling infrastructure schemes in three English regions? For instance, if new infrastructure means that people cycle more, they will tend to get healthier, because doing more exercise is good for most of us. By cycling infrastructure, we mean schemes like cycle tracks, where part of a road is given to cycling, separate from walking or driving. Or a ‘greenway’ where a footpath is upgraded to also serve people using cycles or wheelchairs. These routes will be separated from motor traffic, as evidence suggests we need this for more people to cycle.
To respond to this main question, we will look at the following sub-questions:
- What are the impacts of new, high quality cycling infrastructure schemes on cycling and total active travel, and hence associated health and health economic benefits associated with increased physical activity?
- What are its impacts on injuries and near-misses?
- What are its impacts on car ownership, and on car driving and hence emissions of CO2 and local air pollutants?
- How do the above outcomes vary spatially and socially (via testing for interactions)?
- How equitable are local cycling environments (by deprivation and diversity) across the regions, and how does new infrastructure affect any disparities?
- How does the new infrastructure affect wellbeing - both individual subjective wellbeing and community wellbeing?
- What are its impacts on experiences of disabled people and those from ethnic minority groups that are less likely to cycle?
- What implications do (1)-(7) have for transport and health policy?
What are we doing in this study?
To respond to our research questions, we will use both qualitative and quantitative methods, and integrate the findings from those methods to highlight different aspects of the changes associated with the new infrastructure. The study will last 5 years.
Firstly, every year, starting in autumn 2025, we will run an online survey. At ‘baseline’ (2025) we will send invitations by post to people in the three regions who live near planned cycle routes. People will have the option to fill in the survey in different community languages, and in other ways if needed (e.g. by post or telephone). People who fill in the survey at baseline will then be asked to participate again another three waves taking place over the next three years. The survey will allow us to collect information from 15,000 people each year for 4 years, so we can look at how people travel, and if and how their travel changes. Some planned cycle routes will be built in this period and some won’t, so we can compare changes to what people living near new routes do with people who don’t. Personal data will be safeguarded and no-one will be identifiable in results.
Secondly, we will be doing in-depth qualitative research to understand how people behave and feel around new infrastructure. We’ll interview 75 new cyclists about how taking up cycling has affected them, and working with our community partners Wheels for Wellbeing and Joy Riders, we’ll focus on how infrastructure is affecting 60 residents (cyclists and non-cyclists) from specific local ethnic minority communities and/or who are disabled. These groups are chosen because they cycle less than others, are often less involved in consultations, and may have different experiences to other people.
Who do we work with?
This project is led by researchers at the University of Westminster’s Active Travel Academy, with partners at the University of Birmingham, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Wheels for Wellbeing and JoyRiders. The project has been developed with input from local authorities and community groups such. They will also participate in the research by helping to organise and run community events where the team will carry out research as well as assist the research team in analysing data. We will regularly share our findings with community groups, local authorities, and the public. The results will help improve health and transport policies and inform local communities and policymakers at local, regional, and national levels about the effects of building this infrastructure.
Researchers and other staff involved in the study
- Professor Rachel Aldred, University of Westminster (Lead-Investigator)
- Dr Ersilia Verlinghieri, University of Westminster (Joint Lead-Investigator)
- Patrice Ajai-Ajagbe, University of Westminster (Project Manager)
Co applicants
- Dr David Fevyer, University of Westminster
- Dr Jamie Furlong, University of Westminster
- Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer, University of Westminster
- Dr Luiz Flavio Andrade de Oliveira, University of Birmingham
- Professor Philip Edwards, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Dr Anna Goodman, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Dr Kay Inckle, Wheels for Wellbeing
- Mrs Mariam Draaijer, JoyRiders
Funder
The study is led by the University of Westminster. The study is funded by a grant from the National Institute for Health and Social Care Public Health Research Programme (NIHR167654).
Contact us
If you would like to know more about the study, please email us at [email protected].