Shaping the City for Walking and Cycling: A Case Study of Lancaster

This paper uses the town of Lancaster (in north-west England) as a case study to examine the barriers to cycling and walking, the effectiveness of measures to promote cycling (Lancaster is a Cycle Demonstration Town) and the opportunities to improve the environment for both walking and cycling. It is argued that while investment in physical infrastructure is of value, the barriers to both cycling and walking go far beyond the physical environment and are deeply embedded in societal structures and the everyday practices of individuals and households. We argue for a more integrated approach to planning for sustainable travel in urban areas, which recognizes the limitations of focusing solely (or mainly) on the built environment.