Communities across England are set to benefit from £101 million of Government funding for the delivery of walking and cycling routes.
The investment, announced by Active Travel England, will also improve the quality of local public engagement for new schemes, deliver free e-cycle loans, expand trials of side road zebra crossings and develop new active travel routes in National Parks.
Active Travel England says, together, these measures will unlock sustainable transport options for millions more people – adding it will particularly benefit people living in deprived or rural areas with almost half of funding going to deprived communities.
Chris Boardman, national active travel commissioner, said: “This funding is not only going to give millions of people safer and more enjoyable ways to get to school, the shops and workplaces but it will also help local authorities to work with communities to come up with plans for future projects that will make the most difference, providing excellent value for money.”
The £101 million package includes £45.7 million of capital funding awarded to local authorities as part of Active Travel Fund 4 Extension funding, as well as £51.5 million of revenue funding awarded to local authorities as part of the annual Capability Fund for 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Four authorities will also receive a share of £2.4 million funding to pilot free e-cycle loan schemes in their areas.
This will give people and businesses the opportunity to try e-cycles in South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Leicester and Luton and Dunstable.
A further £1 million will support the development of walking and cycling routes in England’s National Parks.
This will enable authorities to develop plans for better links between rural towns and villages, with an aim of unlocking better transport choices for people living in and visiting rural areas.
Guy Opperman, roads minister, said: “We’re committed to ensuring people can travel in the way that works best for them, which is why we’re investing over £100 million for over 100 kilometres of new walking and cycling routes, improved access to our national parks, and e-cycle loan schemes.
“This funding is not just an investment in new infrastructure, but in communities that will benefit from the social mobility and health benefits that improved and new walking and cycling routes will bring.”
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