ALT Nearly 10 million people, close to 17% of England’s population, live in rural areas. Rural trips of less than 5 miles account for 60% of all trips – half of which are made by car.

ALT There is a major opportunity to enable more of these everyday journeys to be walked, wheeled or cycled. Better active travel routes can give people more choice in how they travel.

ALT High-quality, safe and accessible active travel routes benefit everyone, but can make the greatest difference for disabled people, older people and women and girls, who can face particular barriers to active travel in rural areas.

ALT Active travel routes do more than help people get from A to B. They support local businesses, leisure and tourism, and help people access and enjoy the countryside.

ALT Text reads: ‘Worth Every Step. How active travel benefits the nation.’ Text against a visualisation of a town.

ALT Text reads: ‘Households that give up a second car in favour of active short trips could save around £1,700 per year on average – that’s more than £17,000 over 10 years.’

ALT Text reads: ‘More people adopting healthier lifestyles would free up around 1.7 million GP appointments every year and lead to 4.4 million fewer sick days.’