
Living Streets Scotland works to promote everyday walking and wheeling – that’s walking to the shops, walking to school or work, or walking with friends, or doing those things using a wheelchair or other mobility aid. Walking is the most frequent form of exercise for people of all ages and the one undertaken by the huge majority of those who only take one form of exercise. That means it’s walking that has the greatest potential to lift people who currently take little or no exercise into a level of activity that can transform their health for the better.
Inclusive Design photoshoot in Sheffield. Credit: heardinlondon.com
More walking and wheeling for everyday journeys also means fewer cars on the road, leading to cleaner air benefiting everyone’s lungs, fewer vehicle injuries and a positive impact on the climate.
At Living Streets Scotland, we run programmes in schools and communities and work with councils and others in creating places where walking is the natural, safe and easy choice for local journeys. We work with schools to create safer routes so that pupils and families can travel actively to school; our pioneering School Streets where roads are closed to vehicles during pick-up and drop-off give children safe space to build their independence and clean air to breathe at the school gates. Our WOW – Walk to School programme encourages everyone to walk, wheel, cycle or scoot to start their day.
Pupils in Edinburgh take part in Walk to School Month with campaign mascot ‘Strider’.
We work with councils to implement low traffic areas and real, vibrant 20-minute neighbourhoods where communities have a say in how their streets are designed and can meet their daily needs locally. By transforming streets into people-friendly spaces, we’re not only addressing the climate crisis, but also creating more pleasant and liveable environments. Through our Walking Places programmes, we work with children and adults to understand their streets and work with their local authorities to create change.
Living Streets’ Street Play Event in Roath
We work with communities to address isolation and loneliness through walking together. In Ferguslie Park, we brought together primary school pupils and older adults to learn from each other’s perspectives on local streets and undertook street audits together.
In Stow we helped the community develop an action plan to tackle the effects of speeding traffic and allow residents to safely access local green space and public transport links.
A person carrying grocery bags walks through a green space. 
Walking and wheeling can be the key to physical and mental health and access to community and amenities. When people are empowered to ask for and create great, walkable places to live, everyone can benefit from a more active life and healthier environments.
A resident of Cumbernauld wheels through a lane with his dogs.
As we continue our work at Living Streets Scotland, we’re inspired by the power of simple, everyday activities to bring about profound change. Walking and wheeling can transform the way we live – making our neighbourhoods healthier, safer, and more connected places for everyone. It’s a journey worth taking, and we invite everyone to step forward with us.
Kate Joester, Policy and Projects Team Leader Living Streets Scotland