Funding to encourage active travel

The Department for Transport and Active Travel England have announced £32.9 million of funding to boost walking and cycling schemes across the country.

Families, commuters and school children are being encouraged to take up healthy habits. The funding can be used by local councils to develop a network of local walking and cycling schemes, to be co-created by the communities that will use them.

The schemes could include new school safety zones to encourage active travel, improved walking and cycling infrastructure on local high streets and new cycle and wheelchair paths.

The funding is intended to get more people walking and cycling and address the barriers that currently exist. With 79 per cent of women in favour of more protected cycle lanes being built, safety will be a major focus for the design and routes of the new schemes.

Local authorities will also be able to use the funding to enhance technical skills. Activities to be funded include network planning, public engagement exercises and bespoke training for councillors and staff.

Cycling UK estimates that if people cycled short journeys, they could save an average of £126 per year in fuel costs and could burn hundreds of extra calories every week.

Active Travel Minister Jesse Norman said: "Leaving the car and walking and cycling instead is an easy way to get fit, save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

"Better designed schemes, which take into account the views of local people will help deliver improvements that have widespread local support.

"Skills training and local community engagement will help local authorities to make active travel an attractive choice for getting around."

Xavier Brice, Chief Executive Officer of Sustrans, the charity that makes it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle, said: "Sustrans is pleased to see this investment in training and community engagement which will ultimately lead to high-quality infrastructure developments across England that help people choose to use their cars less.

 "This funding is crucial in ensuring that travelling actively is a safe and accessible option for all, particularly as we work towards the government’s goal of 50% of all journeys in towns and cities being walked or cycled by 2030.

 "We’re looking forward to seeing ambitious plans being brought to life and continuing our work to support our local authorities in doing so."