Scottish Cities

Trends in walking to work or study in selected Scottish cities, 2001-2011

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Overall in Scotland there was a reduction in the percentage of commuters walking to work or study between 2001 and 2011, from 23.4% to 20.8%.  In three of the selected cities commuting on foot did rise - in Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh - while in Glasgow the percentage of commuters who walked reduced from 26.8% to 25.1%.

Walking commuting has reduced as part of long-term national trend that has been accompanied by increased car commuting. 

Notes

The data are sourced from the 2001 and 2011 Censuses and exclude people who usually work or study at home.  

The census question is thought to underestimate levels of walking, as the question asks for the main mode of travel used on a commuting journey and multi-modal journeys which include walking but not as the main mode of travel are not accounted for.

Further reading:
Get Scotland Walking is a joint GPCH/Living Streets publication (September 2022) that sumarises walking trends in Scotland, the health and societal benefits of walking, relevant policy, issues which discourage walking and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on walking.