The latest Dunfermline Walking and Cycling Index has been published, revealing strong public support for walking, wheeling and cycling in Scotland’s newest city - and highlighting the role active travel is already playing in improving health, cutting congestion and reducing emissions.

Produced by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in partnership with Fife Council, the Index is the largest assessment of walking, wheeling and cycling in the UK and Ireland.

This second report for Dunfermline, following our first ever Index in 2023, provides a detailed snapshot of how people are travelling around the city and how safe, convenient and attractive those journeys feel.

The Index shows that almost half of Dunfermline residents (47%) walk or wheel at least five days a week, while 94% walk or wheel at least occasionally.

And although overall participation levels are similar to 2023, perceptions of safety and the benefits of active travel have improved significantly:

• 77% of residents now feel it is safe to walk or wheel in their local area, up from 71% in 2023
• 83% support improving and increasing offroad walking, wheeling and cycling paths
• 52% support shifting investment from new roads to walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport
• One quarter of residents say they want to drive less, while half want to walk or wheel more

Cycling participation remains about the same, with 9% of residents cycling at least once a week. Many responded that access to bicycles (49%); electric cycles (46%); or adapted cycles (24%) would help them start cycling or cycle more proving the potential for increasing participation. Some residents would also like access to cargo cycles with space for children and shopping (32%).

Access is not the only factor; 64% of residents want more cycle paths along roads that are physically separated from traffic and pedestrians.

The Index shows that Dunfermline residents walk or wheel 60 times the length of Great Britain every day - and walking, wheeling and cycling combined deliver major benefits for the city each year, including:

• £52 million in economic benefit to residents and the city
• 150 serious long term health conditions prevented
• Around 2,100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved
• Up to 13,000 car journeys removed from Dunfermline’s roads each day, helping reduce congestion

Councillor James Calder, Convener of the City of Dunfermline Area Committee, said: “This latest Index shows the real momentum building around active travel in Dunfermline.

“More people feel safe walking and wheeling, there is overwhelming support for better routes, and we can clearly see the health, environmental and economic benefits that active travel already brings to our city.

“As we head into spring and summer, this report provides the perfect starting point for encouraging even more people to walk, wheel and cycle.

“Active travel improves physical and mental wellbeing, helps tackle the climate emergency, and makes it easier for people to access jobs, education and local services.

“Our ambition is to make walking, wheeling and cycling a natural, everyday choice for everyone in Dunfermline.”

Fiona MacLeod, Director for Scotland, Cymru and Northern Ireland at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, added: “This year’s Index delivers a clear and consistent message: people in Dunfermline want to walk, wheel and cycle more often. And they are supportive of improvements that would help them make these choices.

“As well as offering people healthier, fairer choices for their everyday journeys, the Index shows the broader impact of these improvements.

“All of this underlines the need for sustained investment and local leadership to keep making walking, wheeling and cycling possible for more people. We are delighted to continue working closely with Fife Council on this shared vision, backed by local people."

The publication of the Index coincides with the start of a new Fife Council Active Travel campaign, encouraging more people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for everyday journeys as the lighter evenings and warmer weather approach.

The campaign will promote local routes, events and support available to residents, helping people build active travel into their daily routines - whether that’s walking to the shops, cycling to work or enjoying the region’s growing network of paths, parks and green spaces.

Findings from the Index will help shape future investment, alongside delivery of Fife’s new Active Travel Strategy and Action Plan. Fife Council are taking forward projects in Dunfermline to develop an active travel network. This is supported by the dense network of walking, wheeling and cycling routes in Dunfermline proposed in the Active Travel Strategy and Action Plan.

Together, these set out a long-term vision to improve infrastructure, support behaviour change and make active travel easier and more accessible across the city and the wider region.

Visit www.fife.gov.uk/activetravel to find out more about active travel policy and projects in Fife, and view the latest Dunfermline Index via www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-index/dunfermline/

The Walking and Cycling Index is supported by funding from Transport Scotland.

More details on all reports can be found at www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-index

Our photo shows (left to right) - James Butson, owner of Pedals Bike Care Fife; Amy Hickman, Physical Activity Co-ordinator at Fife Council; Councillor James Calder, City of Dunfermline Area Committee Convener; Holly Hunter, Active Travel Senior Project Officer at Fife Council; Lucy Jackson, Transportation Officer - Sustainable Transport and Parking at Fife Council.