Public satisfaction with walking and cycling infrastructure has remained moderate throughout the life of the NHT Survey but has shown a slow and consistent decline over time, particularly since 2017. While people continue to value pavements, footpaths, and access to rights of way, the data suggests increasing concern about the condition and cleanliness of these routes, as well as the adequacy of facilities for cyclists.
Overall Theme Performance
The Walking and Cycling theme score has fallen steadily from the mid-50s in 2017 to 51 in 2025, indicating a gradual reduction in satisfaction. This decline mirrors wider concerns about local maintenance, cleanliness, and investment in active travel infrastructure. The downward trend suggests that although walking and cycling remain popular travel options, the supporting infrastructure is not improving at the same rate as public expectations.
Key Benchmark Indicators (KBIs)
All Key Benchmark Indicators under this theme have either plateaued or declined:
- Pavements and Footpaths (KBI 11) dropped from 57 in 2008 to 50 in 2025, reflecting worsening perceptions of condition, cleanliness, and obstruction.
- Pavements and Footpaths (aspects) (KBI 12) show a similar fall from the mid-50s to 49, suggesting that detailed factors like surfacing and accessibility are also declining.
- Cycle Routes and Facilities (KBI 13) have stayed relatively flat, moving from the low 50s in 2008 to 50 in 2025, but remain among the lowest-rated areas of active travel satisfaction.
- Rights of Way (KBI 15) remains relatively strong but has still dipped slightly, from 59 in 2008 to 54 in 2025, indicating minor erosion in satisfaction with countryside access and maintenance.
- Rights of Way (aspects) (KBI 16) follows the same pattern, slipping from 52 to 50.
Taken together, the KBIs show that the decline in active travel satisfaction is broad-based, covering walking, cycling, and rural access alike.
Benchmark Indicators (BIs)
At a detailed level, the Benchmark Indicators reveal the specific areas where satisfaction has declined most — particularly pavement maintenance, cleanliness, and obstruction — alongside relatively stable but underperforming scores for cycling facilities.
Walking and Pavements
- Provision of pavements where needed (WCBI 01) remains among the strongest-performing indicators but has fallen from 66 in 2008 to 58 in 2025.
- Condition (WCBI 02) and cleanliness (WCBI 03) of pavements have declined steadily, with cleanliness dropping to just 40 in 2025 — one of the sharpest falls within the theme.
- Safe crossing points (WCBI 05) and drop kerb crossings (WCBI 06) remain moderately positive, at 55 and 54 respectively, though both are down several points since 2014.
- Pavements being kept clear of obstruction (WCBI 07) is persistently low, falling from the low 40s to just 35 in 2025, reflecting public concern about blocked or uneven paths.
- Ease of use for people with disabilities (WCBI 21) remains weak, slipping to 43, showing limited improvement in accessibility.
Cycling Infrastructure
Cycling-related measures have remained fairly stable but continue to sit below walking-related indicators.
- Condition of cycle routes (WCBI 10) and cycle crossing facilities (WCBI 11) have held around 51 & 53.
- Cycle parking (WCBI 12) and information/signing for cycle routes (WCBI 13 &14) remain in the 47 to 51 range, with minor gradual improvement in recent years.
- Newer measures on the number, location, and facilities of cycle lanes and routes (WCBI 27–31) show slow progress, with scores rising slightly from the mid-40s to 47–50 by 2025.
These results indicate incremental improvement in the availability of cycle infrastructure, but not enough to shift overall satisfaction levels.
Rights of Way and Green Access
- Indicators for signposting (WCBI 19) and condition (WCBI 20) of rights of way remain steady at 4 & 53 respectively, showing some resilience over time.
- Overgrown footpaths and bridleways (WCBI 23) score just 37 in 2025, reflecting frustration with maintenance in rural or green routes.
- Information about rights of way routes (WCBI 22) has also plateaued around 46, suggesting limited visibility or support for recreational walking and cycling networks.
Quality Indicators (QIs)
Quality-related measures show stronger results for infrastructure provision than for maintenance or usability:
- Provision of pavements and pedestrian areas (WCQI30) has consistently scored in the high 70s, reaching 78 in 2025 — among the highest ratings in the entire survey.
- Provision of cycle routes (WCQI15) and cycle lanes (WCQI16) have both improved gradually, from around 46–50 in 2020 to 55 and 51 respectively in 2025, indicating positive progress in investment and physical provision.
These results suggest that while people recognise more infrastructure being delivered, maintenance, quality, and cleanliness issues continue to hold back public satisfaction.
Overall Analysis
Between 2008 and 2025, the Walking and Cycling theme has seen a gradual but persistent decline in satisfaction, driven primarily by concerns about pavement condition, obstruction, and cleanliness, alongside moderate dissatisfaction with cycle route maintenance and information.
The data points to a clear divide between infrastructure provision and user experience: while new cycle lanes and walking routes are being added, the day-to-day condition and usability of those routes have not kept pace.
Accessibility for disabled users, information about rights of way, and cleanliness remain particular weak spots, while the provision of pavements and new cycle infrastructure is viewed positively.
Summary Statement
Since 2008, satisfaction with walking and cycling has declined gradually across most measures. Pavements, footpaths, and rights of way remain valued but are increasingly seen as poorly maintained and obstructed, while cleanliness and accessibility for disabled users have deteriorated further. Cycling provision is expanding, but perceptions of quality, safety, and information remain modest. Overall, the public recognises greater investment in infrastructure but continues to call for improvements in the maintenance, safety, and usability of active travel routes.
