lifestyle design

Active Travel vs Road Spending in the UK

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Active Travel vs Road Spending UK

When it comes to transport infrastructure, much of the UK’s policy and spending has been based on a simple but flawed idea: more roads mean more economic opportunity. Yet growing evidence shows that investing in active travel — cycling and walking — delivers far greater returns (1).

In the early years of car use, it was clear to see the economic benefits of more roads. More distance can be covered, opportunities widen, and the economy expands. But is that still the case,  and do they lead to a better quality of life?

Today, we examine how active travel outperforms traditional road investment in economic outputs like retail spending, employment, health savings, and productivity and why it’s time to rethink how we measure success. Traditionally, any budget for Active Travel has been measured via non-economic outputs (environment, quality of life), whereas roads have been measured purely by economic output.

Recently, governments’ research studies have started to measure active travel measures via their economic output. The data is compelling, yet budgets are tiny vs road budgets. Why is this? Is it purely because change is difficult? Let’s examine the economic potential of active travel. 

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Center Parcs Review For Families

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Center Parcs Review For Families

There’s a long-running joke about the cost of Center Parcs. A trip there can sometimes feel like you’re paying obscene prices for a trip a couple of hours away from home. 

But here’s the truth we’ve discovered: when approached in the right way, Center Parcs can be one of the best-value short breaks for outdoorsy families—especially those with young cyclists in tow who happen to love swimming and parks. 

Table of Contents

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Commuting to Primary School: Walking vs Cycling vs Park & Stride vs Car

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Commuting To Primary School

There are a whole host of different ways people commute to Primary school. Whether that’s our own preference for walking and cycling or driving, people have their own reasons for a specific journey type.

But the way you commute to school can have a huge impact on the overall health outcomes of you and the wider society. It’s not a straightforward topic to tackle yet there are ways it can be a balancing act between practicality, health and the environment.

Let’s explore four common ways families commute: walking, cycling, park and stride, and driving. We’ll provide insights, backed by research, to help you find and potentially make small changes which can have far-reaching benefits.

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How to Get Into Cycling – How Do Beginners Start?

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Resistance Training & Cycling

Cycling can look daunting as a beginner and the thought of getting started with something new can feel uncomfortable. You are not alone and this is completely human and this is how you should feel. But let me let you in on a secret. Cycling for leisure is actually incredibly easy, can be done in your own time at your own pace and is super rewarding! 

If you’re thinking of giving cycling a go, but the idea of getting on a bike feels daunting, you’re not alone. At Family Cycling, our approach is simple, relaxed, and down-to-earth. We’re not chasing Strava segments or racking up miles (But if you do this it’s totally fine too!).

We’re about getting outdoors, building confidence, and using the humble bike as a tool for joy, connection, and adventure. Whether that’s taking your kids to school, heading down to the shops or just a recreational activity on a weekend. Bikes are arguably the most effective mode of transportation known to man. 

So, how do you get started with cycling – especially as an adult? Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to get started with some simple hints and tips for those who feel apprehensive about taking the initial step. 

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Active Travel & Where you live..Does environment matter?

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Active Travel & Where you live

The Role of Infrastructure in Encouraging Family Cycling

We’ve all heard the phrase “you are what you eat,” but what about you are where you live?

The truth is, your environment can make a huge difference in how you live your daily life — particularly when it comes to how much you can rely on your own two feet (or wheels) to get around. Some areas despite the best intentions are just difficult to navigate. You may live off an incredibly busy road or car culture may be ingrained in the day-to-day life of those around you. This makes active travel far more difficult than somewhere which prioritises human-powered travel.

Whether it’s the school run, popping to the shops, commuting to work or just heading out for some fresh air, where you live can either support or sabotage your chances of living actively.

From a personal perspective when we chose to move to the area we are in over 10 years ago we didn’t consider active travel in our decision process. But two children, cycling holidays & thousands of miles of day-to-day life via bikes have changed that.

Despite our area being good for walking and cycling we are still in the minority. I’ve touched on before how it’s quicker, cheaper and more efficient but still very few (if any) parents of school children choose to ride a bike. 

Some of this is mindset and unfortunately where we live many will drive 200 yards vs using their own two feet despite the overwhelming positives of doing so. But despite the noise around you, the environment is the main influence on your own decisions. We still bike and walk every single day as the environment (despite some challenges) enables us to do so.

Maybe you are about to start a family and want to raise them as resilient, strong kids who can travel well via bike or foot or perhaps you are heading into retirement and wanting a walkable environment to live in.

Here’s why the environment around us matters — and how it can shape our choices, routines and more. 

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Infrastructure Matters: The Impact of Cycling infrastructure on Family Cycling

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Cycling Infrastructure For Family Cycling

The Role of Infrastructure in Encouraging Family Cycling

Cycling has long been heralded as an efficient, eco-friendly mode of transport. However, the presence (or absence) of dedicated cycling infrastructure plays a pivotal role in determining how many people—especially families—choose to cycle regularly.

Studies have shown that the introduction of bike lanes significantly increases cycling participation among all age groups, with families being among the greatest beneficiaries (The Guardian).

I’ve witnessed this myself at the school gate. I listened in to a conversation between two parents of Year 5 children who were about to do Bikeability training. They suggested they were happy for their children to do the playground training but wouldn’t consent to them doing the road training (which is usually within a safe/closed cul-de-sac or side streets).

I couldn’t help but think we’d made a wrong turn somewhere in a society where parents are too scared to allow their children to ride a bike. I’m obviously biased but bikes are the facilitator of freedom. They are enablers; particularly for those growing up as a means of transportation. Not only that but from a health and environmental perspective. What world have we created where we are happy for our children to lead sedentary lifestyles over active ones?

I must confess it’s not easy to cycle within a suburban environment. Pavement parking, speeding, close passes, distracted and rushed drivers. It can be a real challenge; especially with two children in tow.

I believe infrastructure matters and 30+ years of poor infrastructure choices have contributed to a decline in health (mentally and physically), time, happiness and autonomy. But how do we change 30 years of poor planning decisions and the subsequent impact on our society? Let’s look at how the impact of infrastructure can bring positive change, the net benefits of doing so and the next steps. 

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The True Cost of a PCP vs a Second-Hand Used Car

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PCP vs a Second-Hand Used Car

For many families in the UK, owning a car is a necessity. Our public transport is underdeveloped for the modern world, many live rurally with no access to other means of transport. Having a car is a requirement for many.

However, cars are a method of transportation and should be viewed as such. The rise in car finance (namely PCPs) has seen this change with the car fast becoming a status symbol for many. However, with the meteoric rise in car finance, expensive cars have become widespread.

But did you know this method of financing that car can have a profound impact on financial stability and overall quality of life?

Since their introduction in 2008 PCPs have seen a huge growth in popularity. The consumer car finance market is the largest of the UK consumer credit markets accounting for 36% of the total value of outstanding consumer credit contracts at the end of September 2024

One of the most common financing methods is a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), where consumers pay a deposit and monthly payments for a brand-new vehicle, often upgrading to another new model every three years.

But what is the opportunity cost of this? What are you potentially leaving on the table? Have you ever zoomed out and wondered what would be if you broke the chain and kept a car longer? Let’s explore the true cost of your PCP vs a Second-Hand used car.

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EV vs eBike – Why Are People Choosing EVs Over eBikes?

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EV Vs eBike

As someone who enjoys using a bike for short trips, I’ve always been baffled by the fact that eBikes haven’t been pushed harder by governments—or should I say the UK government? Those who enjoy cycling will know of the benefits of cycling in the Netherlands vs. the UK but the age-old debate of a flat country will always rear its head. But what about eBikes and why aren’t we using them?

With modern eBikes boasting an 80+ mile range, minimal charging costs, and easy storage, they seem like an obvious choice for short commutes. Yet, the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has skyrocketed as a genuine ‘clean’ option (although subjective) vs an ICE car.

So, why is this? Is it cultural? Are government incentives swaying the market? Or is it a combination of factors?

Our focus here at Family Cycling is to make your life better so I wanted to explore why an eBike should be a genuine option for you from a health and financial perspective. 

Let’s break it down and explore whether an eBike could be a better alternative to purchasing a brand-new EV.

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When Should a Child Learn to Ride a Bike?

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What Age Should You Learn to ride a bike

Learning to ride a bike is a milestone in a child’s life, not just for the physical benefits but also for the confidence and independence it fosters. The question of when a child should learn to ride a bike really should be as EARLY as possible. Of course, we are biased here at Family Cycling 🙂

Our daughter was 4 years old when she was comfortable pedalling, and our son is of a similar age and can cycle, too (although he needs a little more persuasion).

But the question of when is the best age for a child to begin cycling, and how to support them through the process, is one that many parents face.

While the age range can vary depending on the child, evidence suggests that starting early can be immensely beneficial.

In this article, we explore the optimal ages, key stages, and the importance of early cycling, with insights from the UK and other successful countries, including the Netherlands and the Nordic region.

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Case Study: Walking & Cycling to Secondary School – Can we get to 60%?

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Walking Cycling Secondary School

As part of our case study into walking and cycling, we wanted to look at the impact of getting more secondary school students to walk or cycle to school.

The numbers are currently ‘ok’ but should be better. At secondary school age, the freedom and autonomy of cycling/walking to school should be something that is embraced. But what impact could it have on emissions, air quality and the level of cars on the road? Not only that but can it have a positive impact on the mental and physical health of our teenagers?

The scenario-based case study below looks at an 18% rise in students embracing active travel across England to get to and from school.

The elephant in the room when it comes to cars is that we have too many people driving. We haven’t the space or infrastructure to accommodate the level of journeys via car and as such congestion will get worse before getting better.

Let’s dive into the numbers, shall we?

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