Thursday March 5th 2026
Image credit: Brian Sweeney/Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
New findings from the Glasgow Walking and Cycling Index 2025 show a rise in confidence in using local streets, alongside public backing for safer neighbourhoods and improved cycling infrastructure.
Produced by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in partnership with the council, the Index demonstrates increasing positivity around active travel when compared with the 2023 edition – highlighting how recent investment and street improvements are shaping people’s everyday experiences across the city.
You can download the Glasgow Walking and Cycling Index 2025 here.
The independent survey questioned 1,181 Glasgow residents aged 16 and over between March and June 2025.
Walking and wheeling continue to underpin everyday travel in Glasgow, with 93% of residents walking or wheeling and 57% doing so at least five days a week.
Confidence in the safety of local streets has increased since 2023, with 71% of residents now saying it is safe to walk or wheel in their local area. Confidence in cycling has also risen, with nearly half of residents now saying it’s safe to cycle locally, including gains among women, disabled people and parents.
Public support for safer streets and better active travel infrastructure is strong and consistent, reflecting clear untapped demand. Over a quarter of residents who do not currently cycle say they would like to, and nearly half of adults now have access to a cycle, suggesting that many more people could choose cycling if safer routes continue to be delivered.
This is reinforced by widespread backing for specific safety measures, with 71% of residents supporting safer school streets with improved crossing points and protected cycle paths, and 61% supporting 20mph speed limits on local roads.
There is also demand for improved cycling networks. Two‑thirds of residents say they would be encouraged to start cycling by more traffic‑free routes away from roads, while 61% support additional cycle paths along roads that are physically separated from traffic.
A further 68% want better integration between cycling and public transport, including secure cycle parking at train stations and bus stops, and more than half of residents, support building additional protected cycle paths even where this reduces space for other traffic.
Support extends beyond cycling, with residents backing many ways to make our streets and neighbourhoods safe, welcoming and comfortable for everyone to walk or wheel. 76% want better pavement accessibility like level surfaces and dropped kerbs at crossing points. And support for fewer cars parked on the pavement remains consistent with the previous Index.
Measures to make neighbourhoods safer for children also command broad support, with 60% backing traffic reduction targets.
Overall participation in cycling has remained broadly stable since 2023, with 15% of residents cycling at least once a week. The Index has however highlighted a shift in how cycling is used, with the 26 million trips made in 2025 increasingly focused on everyday journeys such as commuting, work and shopping – reinforcing cycling’s growing role as a practical and valued part of Glasgow’s transport system.
Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Transport, said:”Glasgow is changing how we move. Over the past two years, the city has made major investments in walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, backed by community support and driven by a commitment to delivering safer, more accessible streets for everyone.
“The 2025 Index shows strong demand for safer streets and better active travel infrastructure, alongside growing confidence, with more people than ever now feeling safer walking, wheeling and cycling in their neighbourhoods. This reflects the impact of sustained investment in high‑quality infrastructure and the difference it is making to people’s daily lives.
“We’re also seeing clear results. More than 1.7 million walking and cycling trips have been recorded since the Govan-Partick Bridge opened, cycling on the East City Way is up 81% since 2021, and on Victoria Road, recent counts showed more bikes than cars during both rush‑hour peaks for the first time.
“Major projects continue to be completed across the city with several currently under construction including new safer cycle links at Yorkhill, Byres Road, St George’s Road, Dumbreck Road, and throughout the city centre as part of the Avenues transformation programme.
“With an ambitious pipeline of projects and the city’s active travel delivery plan for the coming years due to be announced later this month, Glasgow is taking bold steps to deliver safer routes, wider pavements and greener, more accessible streets, enabling healthier travel choices for everyone.”
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 Glasgow 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. Walking, wheeling and cycling in Glasgow prevents over 1,400 serious long-term health conditions each year, creates £565.1 million for the local economy, and saves 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
“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 Glasgow City Council on this shared vision, backed by local people.”
Glasgow Council aims to build on the progress made since 2023 through continued delivery of high-quality active travel infrastructure, the phased introduction of 20mph speed limits, pavement parking enforcement, and ongoing investment in neighbourhoods and supporting programmes.
From new segregated cycleways and upgraded footways to more welcoming public spaces, Glasgow’s investment in active travel is encouraging healthier travel choices and creating vibrant, people‑focused streets.
A range of complementary measures is also helping residents make the most of the expanding network, including cycle training, expanded secure on‑street cycle parking, a fully electric cycle‑hire fleet, and campaigns that promote active travel for everyday journeys such as travelling to school.
The Walking and Cycling Index is supported by funding from Transport Scotland.
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