Transport for London (TfL) has an ambitious goal. Its Walking and Wheeling Action Plan aims to make London a place where it is easy and enjoyable for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle as part of everyday life.

However, a plan is only the first step. Real change happens on local streets, and communities must play a central role in shaping it.

Turning Ambition into Action: How Active Travel Inspectors Support TfL’s Walking and Wheeling Action Plan

That’s where simple, practical tools make a difference. Modeshift’s Active Travel Inspectors (ATI) programme is already helping schools turn ambitious plans into meaningful action while ensuring young people’s perspectives remain at the heart of decision-making. Established across England and now available to London borough schools, ATI provides a proven way to support delivery on the ground.

Giving Young People a Voice

One of the key actions in TfL’s plan is to involve communities in decision-making. People who walk or wheel every day should help shape the streets they use.

ATI does exactly that.

Young people become Active Travel Inspectors and explore their local area, assessing seven key themes—including pavements for people, motor traffic and green spaces—adapted from the ATE Area Check Tool. They score what they see and recommend improvements.

As a result, young people do more than share opinions. They help shape the future of their local streets.

The ATI programme continues to grow across England.

• 89 Active Travel Inspections completed
• in 22 local authority areas,
• involving around 700 pupils.

Turning Evidence into Action

TfL also wants boroughs to work more closely with communities when designing better streets. ATI provides a simple and consistent way to gather, manage and share this information.

Young people do more than identify problems. They collect evidence, explain what feels unsafe and suggest practical solutions. Their findings are uploaded to Modeshift and shared with schools, boroughs and TfL through a clear report that supports real decision-making.

This process helps ensure young people’s views lead to action rather than ending with consultation.

Improving Safety and Removing Barriers

Creating safer streets is another priority within the Walking and Wheeling Action Plan.

ATI helps identify local safety issues and barriers to active travel. Any ‘fixable bits’ identified during an inspection appear in the Modeshift STARS dashboard, where boroughs can monitor progress from Open to Resolved.

Issues might include graffiti covering road signs, missing dropped kerbs, damaged pavements or unsafe crossings. Because the evidence comes directly from the people using these routes every day, boroughs gain a clearer understanding of which improvements will have the greatest impact.

Ultimately, this supports TfL’s ambition to create places where more people feel confident choosing walking, wheeling and cycling.

A Scalable Solution for London

Another challenge for TfL is delivering change consistently across London’s boroughs.

ATI offers a practical solution. The programme is ready to use, affordable to deliver and supported by straightforward resources that make it easy for schools to take part.

At the same time, ATI generates valuable local evidence. It transforms pupils’ observations into meaningful data that helps boroughs prioritise investment and measure progress.

Creating Lasting Behaviour Change

Schools sit at the heart of their communities.

By engaging pupils, ATI also reaches families, carers and local neighbourhoods. Its impact therefore extends well beyond the inspection itself, creating a ripple effect that encourages more people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for everyday journeys.

Helping Deliver TfL’s Vision

TfL’s Walking and Wheeling Action Plan sets out an ambitious vision for London’s future.

Active Travel Inspectors helps turn that vision into practical action. The programme gives communities a voice, improves safety, removes barriers and provides boroughs with clear evidence to support investment and decision-making.

Most importantly, it ensures the people who use London’s streets every day – especially young people – play an active role in shaping them.

Learn more about Active Travel Inspectors (ATI).

London boroughs interested in delivering the programme can contact us at [email protected] to find out more about an ATI licence.