The government and Active Travel England have today announced a £291 million funding package to enable local authorities to boost walking, wheeling and cycling in England.
The funding will be used to improve crossings and junctions to make active travel easier and safer across the country, and will also help fund cycle training for hundreds of thousands of children.
The package will benefit active travel in the following ways:
- £222.5 million to local authorities for the development and delivery of local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, alongside community engagement and training
- £30 million to provide Bikeability cycle training to children
- £30 million to the Sustrans charity to deliver improvements to the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of signed active travel routes
- £8.5 million for Cycling UK, Living Streets and Modeshift to deliver walking, wheeling and cycling initiatives in schools and communities
Active Travel England have also published guidance which aims to help local authorities engage with their communities in the development of transport schemes involving active travel.
Titled ‘A best Practice Guide to Community Consultation and Engagement’ the document can be read here.
The government believe that the improvement in cycle lanes and walkways enabled by the new funding will lead to 43,000 fewer sick days a year, due to the health benefits of increased active travel, as well as adding £9 million to the economy annually.
National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: ‘Making it simple and safe to walk, wheel or cycle to schools, shops and workplaces is one of the most effective actions we can take to improve the nation’s health, economy and get to net zero, all in one.
‘Free exercise, zero emissions and no risk of getting stuck in traffic are benefits already being enjoyed as standard by our European neighbours and it’s time we had the same life-improving choices.
‘This funding will help make our towns, cities and villages happier, healthier and greener places to live.’
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: ‘Helping more people to get the health benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling is at the heart of the Bee Network. Our plan to connect 95% of our residents to within 400 metres of high-quality active travel routes is arguably the boldest in the country.
‘We’re already seeing more people choose active travel over the car for short journeys. This latest funding will help us build on our success to date and demonstrates confidence – at the highest level – in the Bee Network.
‘The more people we can persuade to leave the car at home, the more we will make the traffic flow and the roads better for everyone.’
Xavier Brice, CEO at Sustrans, said of the funding: ‘As the charity that looks after the National Cycle Network, this funding is a fantastic boost to our work to make the 13,000 miles of routes safer and more accessible for local journeys, whether by foot, cycle, wheelchair or mobility scooter.
‘We can now step-up our work with local communities, many partners and governments across the UK, to make it easier for everyone to walk, wheel or cycle for more journeys, growing local economies, providing easy and healthy access to nature and helping people live well for longer.’