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14
Feb
Big funding boost for cycling and walking in North Yorkshire
The government has awarded North Yorkshire Council £369,000 to make walking, wheeling and cycling easier.
Its executive agency Active Travel England announced this week it had allocated £291 million in its latest annual funding round.
Active travel fund 5 will award:
• £222.5 million to local authorities to spend on local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, alongside community engagement and training
• £30 million to provide Bikeability cycle training to children
• £30 million to the Sustrans charity to deliver improvements to the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of signed active travel routes
• £8.5 million to Cycling UK, Living Streets and Modeshift to deliver walking, wheeling and cycling initiatives in schools and communities
West Midlands Combined Authority received £5.2 million — the highest sum awarded to a local authority. Greater Manchester Combined Authority received £5.1 million.
North Yorkshire Council’s £369,000 was its first successful bid to the fund since active travel fund 2 in 2020/21, when it received £1.1 million.
A government press release announcing the allocations said the funding will lead to 300 miles of new walkways and cycle lanes, as well as improved crossings and junctions and cycle training.
A spokesperson for Harrogate District Cycle Action said:
We are pleased that North Yorkshire have received funding for active travel. We hope that these funds can be used quickly to deliver small schemes that North Yorkshire have already identified.
The Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire Council how much it bid for and what the funds will be spent on.
'Effective actions'
Local transport minister Simon Lightwood said:
We’re making sure local authorities can deliver high-quality and easily accessible schemes for everyone.
National active travel commissioner Chris Boardman said:
Making it simple and safe to walk, wheel or cycle to schools, shops and workplaces is one of the most effective actions we can take to improve the nation’s health, economy and get to net zero, all in one.
Free exercise, zero emissions and no risk of getting stuck in traffic are benefits already being enjoyed as standard by our European neighbours and it’s time we had the same life-improving choices.
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