Walking, wheeling and cycling across the North East is saving the NHS £59.9 million a year, equivalent to 1.3 million GP appointments, according to the UK’s largest assessment of active travel.

The findings come from the North East’s Walking and Cycling Index 2025, launched today by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and the North East Combined Authority.

The Index shows walking, wheeling and cycling are already improving people’s health and creating more liveable communities across the region, with strong public support for streets and neighbourhoods designed around people.

For Elizabeth Murphy, a junior doctor, cycling has become her main mode of transport after relocating. She said: “I recently moved to Newcastle and now cycle most places – cycle lanes are better, and roads quieter, so I feel safer, and it’s more reliable than getting stuck in traffic.

“As a junior doctor, it's made exercising easier; it’s just part of my routine instead of having to think about fitting it in around long shifts. For our communities and spaces, it's so much nicer to have less cars on the street.”

But Elizabeth feels that more could be done to make streets safer and more accessible. She adds: “I do feel safer cycling or driving than I do walking in the dark in winter. If spaces and routes were better lit, then that would encourage people to walk and cycle more.”

The Walking and Cycling Index shows Elizabeth’s experience is far from unique. Across the region, walking, wheeling and cycling are already delivering significant health, economic and social benefits, but many people still face barriers that prevent them from travelling actively.

“The North East is already a region where walking, wheeling and cycling are becoming part of everyday life, and this new report shows the difference they make by connecting communities in every corner of the region from the countryside to the coast. It shows strong public support for neighbourhoods designed around everyday journeys, that can be made easily on foot, with a wheelchair or by bike, whilst highlighting some concerns around safety and infrastructure.” says Jonah Morris, Growth and Partnerships Manager for the North of England at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.

Key findings from the North East Combined Authority’s 2025 Walking and Cycling Index:
Surveyed residents have saved 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by walking, wheeling and cycling

Only 47% feel they can easily get to where they need to without having to drive

73% of those surveyed would like to see better pavement accessibility, like level surfaces and dropped kerbs

Less than half (47%) of people across the region have access to a bike

The North East Combined Authority is taking action to address some of these issues. They are working with local councils, Active Travel England and local groups across the region, to deliver new projects that make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and accessible to more people.

In North Tyneside, a high-quality, fully-segregated cycling route is transforming the seafront, alongside wider improvements for those walking, including more space and safer crossings.

Stretching from near Tynemouth Priory in the south, with plans to extend to Northumberland, the scheme is embedding active travel as a natural and attractive way to move along the coast, while creating a welcoming public space for people of all ages to enjoy.

In Northumberland, the county council is helping to inspire a love of cycling from an early age and tackle barriers to access through a network of balance bike libraries.

Housed in libraries in Berwick, Ashington, Bedlington and Hexham, schools can loan a fleet of balance bikes free of charge, complete easy-to-use guidance, giving more children the chance to develop confidence on two wheels.

Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council, deputy mayor of the North East Combined Authority and portfolio lead for transport, said: “Walking, wheeling and cycling already play a huge role in daily life across the North East, and the Index shows just how significant the benefits are for our people, our places, and our public services.

“We want to create neighbourhoods where everyone, regardless of age, ability or background, can move around confidently and independently. This Index provides clear evidence to guide our next steps, as we continue investing in infrastructure that delivers healthier communities, cleaner air, and more accessible places across the region.”

The Walking and Cycling Index is a partnership project between Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and the North East Combined Authority.
The report supports local and national decision-makers by providing robust evidence on what is working, and where further action is needed, to help more people choose to walk, wheel or cycle their everyday journeys.

You can download a digital version of the report here: https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-index/north-east