Three quarters of young Scots back bold changes to design safer streets for cycling and walking

Young adults were found to have strongly stated their support for streets redesigned to make them safer for walking and cycling, according to a recent YouGov survey to adults in Scotland, commissioned by Cycling UK. The charity has found that three in four (74%) 16-24-year-olds are in favour of making streets safer for walking and cycling. Across Scotland more broadly, the support remains strong with the majority (56%) of people in favour of redesigning streets to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Bel Ingham, a 25-year-old admin worker from Dundee, said: 

Cycling to work has meant being able to get on the property ladder. Something I wouldn't have been able to afford to if I had to keep a car running. It gives young people like me ultimate freedom and it’s a far more flexible way to get around. Bus routes in the evenings and weekends can be pretty limited where I live.

It’s also incredibly positive for my mental health. Being able to go on longer rides at weekends gets me out of the city and I'm able to explore so many more places. It’s just really convenient. I don't have to worry about finding a parking space or think about low emission zones. I also don’t have to worry about my environmental impact, and I get a free workout as part of my commute.

This is further supported by nearly two-thirds (61%) of young people in Scotland backing Cycling UK’s call for 10% of the overall transport budget to be spent on active travel such as walking and cycling. The findings follow trends captured in the Walking and Cycling Index 2023: Scotland 1 where 64% of people aged 16–25 recorded walking or wheeling at least five days a week, suggesting that many young people are already building active travel into their daily journeys.

The survey went on to unpack how cycling among young people goes further than support, with respondents backing practical measures that would make cycling for shorter journeys easier and safer. Nearly three quarters (72%) of 16–24-year-olds support the building of more separated cycle lanes, while 73% were in favour of increasing road safety awareness campaigns, with support across all adults in Scotland being 57%.

In January 2026, Cycling UK called for awareness campaigns across Scotland, England and Wales to ensure all road users understand and follow the new rules, four years after updates to the Highway Code were implemented. This followed the UK government’s own Road Safety Strategy which highlighted the importance of a ‘lifelong-learning approach’, suggesting the need for more road safety awareness campaigns.

Scott Runciman, Scotland Advocacy Lead at Cycling UK, said:

This should be a siren to all political candidates for the local elections this May. Young people across Scotland want the next government to introduce measures that support more cycling and walking. Many of them are already incorporating active travel into their everyday lives and when it comes to local transport, they want more choices that are easy, safe and affordable.

This is a generation that knows what it wants and will be voting for it. Young people in Scotland have decided they want to travel differently. We need the next government to support that.

The research also highlights strong support among women in Scotland for measures that would improve safety on roads more broadly. Two thirds (66%) of women also support increasing road safety awareness campaigns - a figure that’s 18% higher among women than men (48%). Women are also significantly more likely to support introducing reduced, calmer speeds on rural roads than men (57% vs 37%), reinforcing the importance of creating road environments where everyone feels confident travelling actively.

These responses closely mirror the findings of Cycling UK’s ‘My ride. Our right’ campaign, which highlights the gender divide in cycling, calling for safer roads and greater protections, particularly for women who cycle.

Cycling UK’s manifesto recommendations:

1. Increase investment in active travel to at least 10% of the total transport budget within five years
2. Safer roads for everyone
3. More children cycling
4. Paths to green spaces for better health
5. Greater transport choice and connectivity for all

Cycling UK is engaged with hundreds of electoral candidates and will continue to work closely with them to ensure they recognise that cycling does not just relate to transport, but that it also relates to the cost-of-living crisis, the environment, the economy and so much more. As part of this effort, the charity has produced and shared manifestos in Scotland and Wales unpacking how political candidates can support the creation of real transport choice, that includes cycling and walking.

The charity is also supporting two major election hustings in the run-up to the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. On 16 March, the charity will join forces with Spokes to host an event in Edinburgh, bringing together candidates from across the main parties currently represented at Holyrood to debate cycling and related policies. Confirmed speakers include representatives from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Scottish Green Party, Scottish Labour and Scottish National Party, with others invited. 

A second event, the Glasgow and Strathclyde Active Travel Hustings, will take place on 28 April, ensuring voters across the west of Scotland also have the opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their commitment to cycling and active travel.

To find out more, head to: cyclinguk.org/campaigns/elections-2026