About the study

TRAVel Behaviour & Edinburgh Low Emission Zone

Our Edinburgh LEZ Travel Study

We are researching the impact of Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) on travel behaviour and wellbeing. The Edinburgh LEZ aims to reduce harmful air pollution by restricting access to non-compliant vehicles. Through our study, we want to explore how residents and commuters feel about the LEZ, how it affects their travel choices, and the connection between travel and physical and mental wellbeing.

Why This Study Matters

Cities like Madrid and London have experienced reductions in car use and increases in public transport and active travel after introducing LEZs. We aim to find out if Edinburgh’s LEZ will lead to similar changes and whether it encourages healthier, more sustainable travel options like walking and cycling.

We will also investigate any challenges, such as how the LEZ might affect access to the city or create barriers to active travel.

Our Survey Objectives:

In our survey, we aim to:

Understand how the LEZ influences our travel decisions.
Measure our weekly active travel (e.g., walking, cycling).
Identify barriers to sustainable travel.

Study Description:

Air pollution is a big problem in cities with lots of traffic. To have cleaner air, many cities have created Low Emission Zones (LEZ). Edinburgh’s LEZ enforcement began on 1st June 2024. The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) wish to hear from Edinburgh residents and commuters in this survey, to understand:

What you think about the LEZ.
How you travel.
What you think about walking, cycling and public transport.
The relationship between travel behaviour and physical and mental wellbeing.

Promoting cleaner air and active transport can lead to healthier cities. This research will help us figure out how to make active travel, like walking and cycling, easier for people in Edinburgh.

Thank you for helping us build a clearer picture of Edinburgh’s changing transport landscape.