Active Travel England has awarded grants through its £1 million Innovation Fund to 12 projects.
The projects include e-cargo bike share schemes, community behaviour change programmes, ‘gamified’ walking campaigns and accessible wheeling apps.
Following a competitive bid process, each project will receive a grant of up to £100,000.
The Active Travel Innovation Fund was launched in October last year to enable small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) and non‑governmental organisations (NGOs) to develop new ideas or expand successful initiatives.
Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: "We’re backing bold, community‑led ideas that get more people walking, wheeling and cycling.
"These projects show how innovation and entrepreneurship can deliver healthier journeys, safer streets and real benefits for communities across the country.
"On top of this, the government is investing £626 million for local authorities up to 2030 to deliver vital walking and cycling schemes, which is enough for 500 miles of new walking and cycling routes and 170,000 more active trips per day. This will also help boost local businesses, grow local economies and ease pressure on the NHS."
Walk Ride Greater Manchester has been awarded funding to support the set‑up, coordination and scaling of walking and bike buses, helping hundreds of primary school children travel to school in a fun and active way.
The Go Jauntly app will use their funding to run a gamified city‑versus‑city campaign to increase walking and wheeling among women and families in Birmingham and Liverpool.
Meanwhile, PedalUK will set up, deliver and evaluate a 5‑cycle ‘Our Bike’ community‑led e‑cargo bike‑sharing pilot in Brighton and Hove.
General Manager at PedalUK/OurBike, Emma Hughes, said: "This funding enables OurBike to launch and test our London e-cargo bike share scheme outside the capital in Brighton and Hove. Building on research from the University of Brighton and working with Brighton and Hove City Council and local partners, we are addressing the real barriers to e-cargo bike use by embedding bikes in communities and making everyday cycling more accessible and affordable for families and businesses carrying children, goods or equipment."
Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: "These projects are about testing fresh ideas in the real world and finding out what works. By backing smaller, innovative organisations across the country, we are tapping into more imaginations, reaching people in the heart of the community and building a strong evidence base that will further improve everyday journeys for people who walk, wheel and cycle now and in the future.
"The lessons we learn will help councils, businesses and communities invest in approaches that are inclusive, practical and deliver tangible benefits. It’s about making it easier for more people to choose active travel for everyday trips, whatever their age, ability or background."
