- The government is encouraging millions of people to walk and cycle more this year to keep fit and save money, with a further £32.9m in government funding to accelerate walking and cycling schemes across the country
- With many looking to improve their health or reduce their carbon footprint this month, the government is helping councils improve the way they design and create active travel programs by training staff
- Innovation could see designing better school safety zones to encourage active travel, improving walking and cycling infrastructure on local major streets, and new cycle and wheelchair lanes
This year, we’re encouraging millions of families, commuters and schoolchildren to adopt healthy habits. Local councils will benefit from skills training and the promotion of green jobs thanks to a £32.9m scheme launched today (2 January 2023) which will enable them to develop thousands of thoughtful local walks and Bike programs that are funded by the communities that will use them.
The government expects to see millions of people change the way they travel as people across the country look to start the new year with healthy resolutions.
The investment will help local councils in England design, develop and consult on high-quality active mobility plans that are tailored to residents and take into account the local road network. These could include new school safety zones to encourage active travel, improved walking and cycling infrastructure on local major streets, and new cycle and wheelchair lanes.
These measures aim to get more people from all groups to walk and cycle, and to help address barriers that exist. The number one issue keeping women from cycling is their sense of safety on the road, with 79 percent of women supporting more protected bike lanes, the survey showed. As such, safety will be the main focus of the new design and route.
The funding will support local authorities to maximize active tourism investment by improving their technical skills. Local councils will invest in resources dedicated to working together to develop plans that communities need. Funded activities include network planning, public engagement events, and customized training for MPs and staff. The fund could create hundreds of new green jobs in England.
Making active travel a part of your daily travel routine can improve health, reduce costs and protect the environment. Cycling UK estimates that people can save an average of £126 a year on fuel costs alone by cycling short distances and burn hundreds of extra calories a week.
Active tourism minister Jesse Norman said:
Leaving the car and walking and cycling are easy ways to get fit, save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
Better design solutions that take into account local input will help achieve improvements that enjoy broad local support.
Skills training and local community engagement will help local authorities make active travel an attractive travel option.
Developing the teams that lead active travel programs will create more cost-effective and well-targeted programs. Local authorities will learn how to increase engagement with residents, businesses and other road users to ensure plans are implemented with local support.
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:
If we want millions of people to be able to walk, ride and cycle as part of their daily mobility, then we need to provide high-quality programs that make it easy, fun and safe for them.
Of course, ensuring the right technical skills are in place at the local level is crucial, but so is engagement. Survey after survey has shown that there is strong community support for making space for active travel, but it is important that people actively participate to help decide what is the right solution for their area.
The funding will also be used to engage underrepresented groups and enable more children to walk, cycle and cycle to school. Community engagement programs will give individuals the confidence to walk and cycle safely through bike training, school walk groups and bike rental programs.
Sustrans CEO Xavier Brice said:
Sustrans are delighted to see this investment in training and community engagement culminating in high quality infrastructure across England helping people use their cars less.
This funding is critical to ensuring active mobility is a safe and accessible option for all, especially as we work towards the Government’s target of 50% of all urban and urban journeys to be on foot or by bike by 2030 Bike travel.
We look forward to seeing the ambitious plans come to fruition and continue our work to support our local authorities in doing so.
Through initiatives such as outreach to schools and job centers, people will benefit from better job and educational opportunities.
The Capability Fund will support local councils across the country to train and retain local engineers and planners, develop a skilled and motivated tourism workforce able to work effectively with local communities and conduct high quality engagement and consultation Meeting.
As well as enabling local councils to hire and retain skilled professionals, this multi-million pound investment will deliver specialist training, upskilling and ensure consistent, high quality programs are built across England to provide people with genuinely engaging Powerful active travel options.
