Have your say on UK’s 3rd Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy

“Let’s build health back into our streets” is a key line in the ministerial foreword of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy 3 (CIWIS3) consultation, which is now open and runs until 15 December 2025.

The government has opened the door to responses on its CWIS3 plans – covering 2025-2030, which are integral to its 10-year national vision to make walking, wheeling and cycling a safe, easy and accessible option.

For those who’ve been watching this space for a long time, the joined-up and holistic thinking stands out. The CWIS3 consultation document notes how “active travel supports government missions” rather than the more traditional move to put active travel solely into the travel silo. The holistic approach was not so evident a decade ago, in the opinion of this writer. Here, active travel is directly and correctly linked to outcomes in a diverse array of areas including those covered by the Department for Education, DCMS, DESNZ and Defra, DHSC, MHCLG and the Home Office.

However, there’s still ground to make up. As noted by Cycling UK following CWIS2, goals and funding don’t always match up and that charity will no doubt be among those holding the government’s feet to the coals when CWIS3 is published.

Respondents to the consultation are encouraged to answer a set list of questions to give their take on CWIS3. As someone with a stake in the cycling industry, it might be a worthwhile task to undertake.

Ministerial foreword

“Investing in active travel delivers benefits across every aspect of life – improving physical and mental health, boosting economic growth, cleaning up our air and giving people more choice about how to travel. These outcomes are all critical to delivering our Plan for Change. That’s why, by 2035, we want walking, wheeling and cycling to be a safe, easy and accessible option for everyone.

Our 10-year national vision will set out a long-term, strategic approach to making these choices a reality. It will lead to improved health, give our children greater freedom to get around safely and increase access to jobs and training – helping to raise living standards across the country.

To make this vision a reality, we are empowering local government across England to embed active travel into their local transport systems – ensuring its benefits can be felt by all. Indeed, this shift is already underway, backed by record levels of investment:

• £616 million in capital funding for active travel
• £15.6 billion for Transport for City Regions
• £2.3 billion through the Local Transport Grant
• £900 million a year to maintain and improve bus services
• £24 billion for strategic and local roads, including pavements and cycling infrastructure

Places like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are already demonstrating what’s possible when devolved funding and powers are used to unlock local ambition. This is the principle behind CWIS3 – a locally designed national strategy.

With our support, councils can integrate walking, wheeling and cycling into their broader transport plans and set bold, inclusive targets. Through Active Travel England, the government will back ambition and ensure consistently high standards for active travel infrastructure across the country.

I encourage local authorities and everyone with an interest in boosting walking, wheeling and cycling to respond to this consultation and help co-create the future of active travel over the next decade. Let’s build health back into our streets.”

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport.

Lilian Greenwood, Active Travel Minister.

See the Ways to respond section of the GOV.UK home page for this consultation to read a full list of questions and find out how you can respond to them.