For professionals
We're the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle
Our vision is a society where the way we travel creates healthier places and happier lives for everyone.
The Walking and Cycling Index
The Walking and Cycling Index supports leaders of cities and towns to understand and improve walking, wheeling and cycling across the UK and Ireland. It provides high-quality evidence to help bring our neighbourhoods back to life and ensure walking and cycling are attractive and accessible for everyone.
Disabled Citizens' Inquiry
Bringing disabled people’s voices into the heart of decision-making can improve walking and wheeling for everyone.
Find out more about disabled people’s experiences of walking and wheeling in the UK, and how we can make our places and transport more inclusive and accessible.
Our two strategic priorities translate our vision into reality.
Liveable cities and towns for everyone
Cities and towns should be places that prioritise the people who live and spend time there. For too long they have been designed around cars, leaving less space for walking, cycling and spending time in; things that make our lives better and add to our happiness.
Car-dominated spaces create congestion and damage our environment and health. They harm people who are already disadvantaged the most.
Our cities and towns can – and should – be designed with everyone’s health and wellbeing in mind, rather than cars.
At Sustrans, we create places that connect us to each other and what we need, where everyone can thrive without having to use a car. Sociable places where friends and facilities are a short walk away, and it’s easy and pleasant to travel beyond our neighbourhood.
These are communities in which friendships are made and people belong. Places with clean air and green spaces where everyone has the choice to walk, cycle, scoot or wheel safely to school, work and around their local area.
We don’t work alone to create liveable towns and cities. We bring together the people who live and spend time there, including those with seldom-heard voices, to make the change they want to see.
Examples of our liveable cities and towns work
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling, walking and scooting challenge. It inspires hundreds of thousands of pupils, staff and parents to choose human power for their journey to school.
Places for Everyone
Sustrans Scotland provides advice, support and funding for the creation of infrastructure that makes it easier for people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys. Funded by Transport Scotland, we’ve used our knowledge and experience to back hundreds of projects across Scotland since 2010.
Spatial planning reform
We’re working as part of the Better Planning Coalition to seek revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework. We’re calling for changes to spatial planning policy in England because the planning system has a vital role to play in creating places which enable everyone to live healthier, happier lives.
Pedal Perks Cycle Reward Scheme in Northern Ireland
Our cyclist loyalty scheme - Pedal Perks - hopes to encourage more people to cycle to local shops and cafes. Find a business near you and join the scheme.
Community-led design in Marks Gate
We delivered a project in Marks Gate in East London combining community-led street design, behaviour change and infrastructure improvements to increase opportunities for walking and cycling whilst creating a lively and more people-centred environment.
Paths for everyone
The National Cycle Network is a network of signed paths and routes for walking, cycling and exploring outdoors.
Read our vision for a National Cycle Network that is safer and more accessible for everyone.
Examples of our paths for everyone work
Route upgrade in Marsh Mills
With funding from Highways England, we've created almost 2km of high-quality path for walking and cycling near Plymouth.
Improving access to popular path in Reading
We’re working with Reading Borough Council, the Canal and River Trust and Thames Valley Police to redesign barriers on the popular traffic-free path between Katesgrove, Waterloo Meadows and Fobney Lock.
Vital new traffic-free link opens on the Caledonia Way
Funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by Sustrans Scotland, the new link sees the first protected pathway for walking, cycling and wheeling between the rural communities of North Connel and Benderloch, Argyll and Bute.
First Linking Up project opens in Pembrokeshire
We opened a brand new 17-kilometre route between Narberth and Haverfordwest which incorporates traffic-free sections and quiet roads and follows existing highways, tracks, bridleways and public footpaths.
Making space for nature on the Network
In the face of a national climate and ecological emergency, traffic-free paths have the power to improve biodiversity and protect wildlife.
Our theory of change clarifies how our work brings about change
Our theory of change:
- Helps us evidence our impact
- Provides an accessible summary of a complex situation
- Helps us understand how and why our interventions work, and identify new ones
- Defines the short-term benefits for people and places, and long-term societal changes.
Partner with us
We can offer you tailored solutions that are practical and pragmatic, delivering your vision from the strategic policy level, right down to schemes on the ground.
Our latest research
