Cycling saves the NHS about £72.7 million per year in the studied areas, equivalent to the cost of 1.6 million GP appointments, with 5,736 long-term health conditions avoided and 545 early deaths prevented annually.

The 2025 Walking and Cycling Index, produced by the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and 17 regional partners, finds that active travel saved the NHS about £1.94 billion in 2025 by preventing roughly 156,000 long-term health conditions across the UK.

The report underscores the need for long-term funding and stronger policies to create an inclusive, integrated transport system that connects new developments with communities.

Within 17 Index areas, active travel prevented more than 28,000 serious health conditions, including around 8,700 hip fractures, nearly 6,800 dementia cases, and over 2,300 depression cases, delivering £346.7 million in NHS savings annually in those areas.

Around a quarter of residents not currently cycling are interested in starting, while over half say secure home parking access would encourage cycling, and there is strong support for more off-road, separated cycle paths.

The full Walk Wheel Cycle Trust’s Walking and Cycling Index 2025 is linked for deeper reading.

Major regions covered include Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East Combined Authority, and Leicester in the Midlands; London and the South East are not included, suggesting nationwide figures could be higher.

Anecdotes such as Aminah in Leicester illustrate personal health benefits from walking to university, highlighting the human impact of active travel.

Environmental benefits include about 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions avoided annually and the removal of up to 2.9 million cars from roads daily, easing congestion.

Strong public support exists for walkable, wheelable, and bike-friendly neighborhoods, with about 80% backing nearby shops, schools, green spaces, and public transport within a short walk or wheel.

More than half of residents (54%) support shifting funding from road-building to walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport investments.

Public safety perceptions show 45% feel cycling is safe locally, versus 80% for driving and 74% for public transport, underscoring safety as a barrier.