New plan unveiled that supports a shift to more sustainable travel choices

Published: 25 April 2023

Glasgow has set out plans that will support people to make more sustainable travel choices.

Our first Travel Behaviour Change Strategy aims to ensure that we get the best return on our investment in sustainable transport infrastructure by generating the conditions that can help break the habit of using the car for short, local journeys.

By focusing on the incentives and barriers to sustainable travel, and by promoting positive change, the new strategy will support those choosing to walk, wheel or cycle and use public transport, and for those choices to become second nature.

Glasgow's Travel Behaviour Change Strategy (PDF, 1 MB)

Glasgow's Transport Strategy has set a target of reducing car vehicle kilometres by at least 30% in support of the city's ambition to become a net zero carbon city by 2030, acknowledging that a widespread shift to active travel and public transport is essential for the fight against climate change.

Building sustainable travel infrastructure on its own is not enough however and it is recognised that a change in culture around transport is needed to ensure a significant and sustained shift to low-carbon travel options.

Our Travel Behaviour Change Strategy sets out actions and short-term priorities that encourages this change, including the further delivery of walking and cycling training, the continuation of road safety work within schools, ongoing support of Bikeability safety training for children, and the provision of enhanced sustainable transport information.

The new strategy also highlights the importance of communications, especially with under-represented groups, as an essential tool in normalising sustainable and active travel.

Cllr Angus Millar, City Convener for Transport and Climate said: "How we choose to get about Glasgow plays a key role in Glasgow's and our own health and wellbeing, and the economy and connectivity of the wider city, as well as helping to deliver on climate action.

"This new strategy addresses the barriers to travelling more sustainably, and together with plans that make it easier to access services and amenities within a short walk, wheel, cycle or public transport journey from our homes, will make our streets feel safer and allow easier journeys throughout the city.

"Encouraging people to break their reliance on private car travel is a significant challenge. Putting local residents at the heart of this work however and addressing their specific barriers to sustainable travel will help to ensure buy-in from our communities and provide motivations and empowerment to enable them to make those changes.

"This dedicated behaviour change strategy will play a key role in unlocking a new era for travel in our city."

Next Steps

To maximise what can be delivered, the council will continue to partner with a range of organisations on the design and delivery of travel behaviour change interventions.

As well as helping to set the course of direction for changing peoples' travel behaviour in the city, the strategy will also be a practical resource and guide for teams within the council family when delivering transport infrastructure and related projects. 

Glasgow's Travel Behaviour Strategy 2023 was noted by Councillors at today's Environment and Liveable Neighbourhoods Committee and referred to the City Administration Committee for final approval.

The same committee also heard more about the City Network Final Delivery Plan, a street-by-street guide that shows how Glasgow's City Network for active travel will be built. The plan sets out in detail how the council will prioritise its effort to add almost 270km of safer, segregated active routes for walking, wheeling and cycling to 300km of existing routes in Glasgow.

You can read more about the City Network by clicking on this link.