Active travel means walking, cycling, wheeling (mobility scooters, wheelchairs or similar) and other forms of non-motorised transport used for everyday journeys such as commuting to work, going to school or accessing local services.
Active travel promotes healthier lifestyles and improved physical and mental health, helping to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions. Streets become more welcoming places for everyone.
Dorset Council has a legal duty to encourage active travel. Its draft Active Travel Infrastructure Plan (August 2025) sets out some of the physical changes needed.
In WATAG’s area the plan only covers Bridport and Lyme Regis:
“Bridport’s compact layout and absence of large settlements within easy reach mean that many trips could be localised. Most of the large employment sites are closely located to the town centre.”
“Relatively poor public transport links in the area mean that active travel is critical for many short journeys, but it also means that a large number of short journeys are made by car.”
Twenty-four per cent of Bridport households do not have access to a vehicle – in parts of the town, it’s over 30%.
Cycle routes within the Bridport town area are generally good: bridportandwestbay.co.uk/walking-cycling/
Bridport town council has completed a study showing how the town’s central streets could be improved to make them more welcoming and safer for active travellers. Much of the proposed work will require funding by Dorset Council. The much disregarded 20mph speed limit is just one of many necessary changes.
Lyme Regis town council is developing similar plans in partnership with Dorset Council.
Outside the towns, the area’s hills and busy roads can be extremely challenging for cyclists, horse riders and walkers. Steep hills, narrow roads, and blind corners are a dangerous mix. Dorset Council is considering active travel routes between Charmouth and Lyme Regis, and between Bridport and Salway Ash, Loders, Shipton Gorge, and Burton Bradstock.
The first stage of a new off-road link between Chideock and Bridport has been completed. “A route that does not require dancing with death on the 35”.
Efforts to provide a trailway between Loders, Bradpole and beyond continue.
Dorset Council aspires to provide an off-road trailway between Bridport and Maiden Newton using long stretches of the old railway. This could become the spine for active travel between rural settlements such as Toller and Powerstock, and to Bridport. It would also link National Cycle Network routes 2 and 26.
Get involved with Active Travel
Try walking or cycling short journeys instead of driving
Join a local cycling or walking group to explore new routes
Encourage children to walk, cycle, or scoot to school where possible
Find out more about Dorset Council’s active travel schemes and training opportunities by visiting: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/travel-dorset
More links:
Bridport Town Council Access and Movement Study
Loders Transport Group: Loders/Bradpole Greenway
Sustrans, the national active-travel infrastructure charity
Rights of way map – Where to walk, ride or cycle
Plan your route using the DorsetExplorer online mapping system that shows Dorset’s public rights of way.
Use the Dorset Council interactive cycle map to explore traffic-free cycle paths, signed on-road cycle routes, National Cycle Network (NCN) routes, leisure routes, advisory cycle routes, crossings, cycle parking and cycle shops.
