New Poll: Majority of Scots Eager to Walk, Run, Wheel and Cycle More if Paths were Improved

Press Release: March 27, 2024

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New Poll: Majority of Scots Eager to Walk, Run, Wheel and Cycle More if Paths were Improved
SCOTLAND. 27th March, 2024 - People across Scotland are looking forward to getting outside for the bank holiday this weekend, but a new poll has revealed that 7 in 10 adults would be choosing to walk, run, cycle and wheel places more if there were new or better paths in their local areas.

73% of respondents said they would use the active ways of getting around more if there were better paths in their neighbourhoods.

The research was conducted for Make Ways, a new citizen project from social enterprise Slow Ways, to map where new and better paths are needed in Scotland. 

“So many of us would love to walk or wheel places, but we find ourselves blocked by dangerous roads, fences, overgrowth and other barriers. Even if there is a good way to go - many of us simply don’t know it’s there” explains Dan Raven-Ellison, Chief Exploration Officer 

“Having more and better paths will benefit us all in so many ways. Getting to places under our own steam can improve our health, wellbeing, happiness, relationships and environment.” 

The ambition is to create a massive map that shows good paths, bad paths and where new paths are needed. 

“Make Ways is a citizen project. Making wishes on the map will not automatically lead to them being granted, but we hope the project will generate local and national conversations that lead to more people walking and wheeling places.” 

Conducted by pollsters YouGov, the research found that such a map could make over half (56%) of Scottish adults more confident to walk, run, cycle or wheel places. It also found that around a third of adults would use the map to find and share good ways to go. 

People from across Scotland are being invited to contribute to Make Ways by visiting the website www.makeways.org and highlighting good ways, bad ways and wishes for new paths.


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