The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that UK ministers have backed a coalition of 12 of England’s combined authority mayors, who have signed a joint statement pledging to create a national active travel network.
Launching in autumn 2025, the programme will begin with mayoral combined authorities agreeing an initial network of 3,500 miles of active travel routes.
These routes will aim to target areas where health and air quality are poorest, helping to reduce stark health inequalities.
West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin, South Yorkshire’s Oliver Coppard, York and North Yorkshire’s David Skaith, Hull and East Yorkshire’s Luke Campbell, the North East’s Kim McGuinness, the West of England’s Helen Godwin and the East Midlands’ Claire Ward met with national active travel commissioner, Chris Boardman, and the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, professor Sir Chris Whitty, in York [1 July 2025] to start the plans.
READ MORE: Scotland announces £26m for active travel infrastructure projects
Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham, Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotherham, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, West Midlands mayor Richard Parker and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough mayor Paul Bristow have also signed the pledge.
In addition, mayor of London Sadiq Khan has added his signature in support of the agreement.
As part of the agreement, the mayors have committed to:
- Work with the DfT, Active Travel England and local authorities to create a country-wide national active travel network, comprising local networks that are safe and easy to use
- Transform the school run by delivering high-quality, safer routes in neighbourhoods nationwide
- Boost regional integrated transport networks by giving people easy walking, wheeling and cycling access to buses, trams and trains, which will link to new housing and support local economic growth
The multi-region project will begin work in around 1,000 schools, creating 300 safer routes for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
National Active Travel commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: “Our regional leaders have today marked the start of an exciting chapter by pledging to give people across the country more transport choice.
“We know that more walking, wheeling and cycling will improve our country’s mental and physical health, but it will do much more, it’s the foundation for thriving integrated public transport networks, it increases access to work, boosting local economic growth and it will give millions of children more independence.
“People will only consider travelling actively if it is easy and safe. That’s what the mayors have today pledged to do and that’s why government is backing them. It’s going to have a hugely positive impact on millions of people’s daily lives.”
Achievements and innovations in active travel will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
