Ashton-under-Lyne is quite walkable, with a compact town centre that places shops, restaurants, and services within easy reach for travelers. The Arcades Shopping Centre and surrounding streets offer both chain stores and independent boutiques, making daily errands and exploration manageable on foot. However, while the town centre is pedestrian-friendly, navigating beyond this area might be more challenging without a car due to varying sidewalk quality and infrastructure in outer areas.

The public transit options in Ashton-under-Lyne are robust, benefiting from the central Ashton-under-Lyne Interchange, which brings together bus, Metrolink, and rail services. This setup ensures quick and reliable access to Manchester city centre via the Metrolink, as well as convenient bus routes to nearby towns such as Stockport and Rochdale. For travelers, this means easily accessing a wide range of destinations without the need for a car.

Ashton-under-Lyne offers some cycling opportunities, especially with routes like the Ashton Canal Cycleway providing a traffic-free way to Manchester. Initiatives to enhance cycling infrastructure are ongoing. However, existing barriers on certain routes and limited infrastructure in some areas mean cyclists might have to share roads with vehicles, making it less ideal for those unfamiliar with or uncomfortable in mixed traffic scenarios. While biking works for local trips, it's not universally convenient.