Active Travel England and NCN to share £200 million pot

£200 million in funding for cycling and walking schemes was allocated from the Government’s £2 billion budget over the weekend, with Active Travel England receiving its first pot to draw from.

Led by Chris Boardman in the interim, Active Travel England will now fund 134 schemes with £161 million, creating safe infrastructure networks in cities to stimulate cycling and walking. Among these schemes are new junctions and pedestrian crossings in Liverpool, new segregated cycle lanes across the north-east and a new “travel corridor” in Gloucestershire with reduced traffic and high-quality cycle routes.

Added to this, 19 authorities will each receive a slice of a total £1.5 million for feasibility studies targeted at understanding whether “mini-Holland” infrastructure is viable. Nottinghamshire, Hull and Manchester are three destinations taking the slivers of cash.

There is an additional £35 million in funding dished out to develop the National Cycle Network. 44 off-road segments are to be upgraded.

Xavier Brice, Chief Executive Officer of Sustrans, the charity that is charged with maintaining the network said: “As custodians of the National Cycle Network, we’re delighted that the government is continuing to invest in these vital and much-loved walking, wheeling and cycling routes.

“This funding will see improvements made to the network in England, connecting cities, towns and the countryside, making walking, wheeling and cycling a safer, more convenient and more accessible travel option for everyone.

“The network is a national asset that is loved locally and continued investment will advance our work with partners and stakeholders across the UK. Together, we’re reimagining the ways in which we move around, empowering people to connect with others and helping everyone explore our shared environments.”

In the context of societal challenges such as pollution, transport congestion and a worsening climate crisis, there is a feeling that the budgets for clean transportation are lacking. For context, the Potholes Budget is £500 million larger than the entire cycling and walking budget over the Government term and more than ten-times smaller than the reduced £24 billion roads budget.

At £2 billion spread across a five year term, with cash to be split across the country and a wide-range of projects, opposition MPs and Peers are of the feeling more cash is required to make a difference.

““I think it’s true that £2 billion is a massive start, but it’s not enough. Let’s see the difference that the funding we do have begins to make,” All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group co-chair Ruth Cadbury told CI.N during the 2020 ‘bike boom’.

The Government statement also points to an £8 million electric bike pilot scheme, detailed last week, that will offer short and longer-term loans in a bid to introduce people to assisted cycling. Delivered by Cycling UK, the launch took place in Greater Manchester last week.

Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival effort is once again to benefit from £2 million in cash to put on free events where bikes can be fixed and skills taught. People across the country will be able to turn up at events with their bikes and receive a basic service or learn to repair their own bikes at a workshop. They will also be able to learn to ride a bike from beginner level or join a ride to increase their confidence.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “This multimillion-pound investment will ensure people right across the country can access cheap, healthy and zero-emission travel.

“Active Travel England will be working hard to create a new golden age of walking and cycling, enabling everyone to reap the benefits of a more active lifestyle, creating streets where children can play and making nicer places to live.”

Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said: “This is all about enabling people to leave their cars at home and enjoy local journeys on foot or by bike. Active Travel England is going to make sure high-quality spaces for cycling, wheeling and walking are delivered across all parts of England, creating better streets, a happier school run and healthier, more pleasant journeys to work and the shops.”

Finally, Wheels for Wellbeing is to gain an additional £75,000 in cash to support access to the infrastructure for disabled people. Wheels for Wellbeing will also coordinate an expert panel on inclusive cycling and develop a photobank of inclusive cycling imagery.