Mayoral combined authorities to create national active travel network

A coalition of 12 of England’s combined authority mayors, collectively representing 20 million residents, have signed an ambitious joint statement pledging to create a national active travel network providing 3,500 miles of safer routes for better connectivity, targeting areas where health and air quality are poorest.

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 in early July to kickstart the plans.

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.

Launching in autumn 2025, the programme will begin with Mayoral combined authorities agreeing an initial network of 3,500 miles of safer routes connecting housing to schools and high streets, targeting areas where encouraging active travel has significant potential to reduce health inequalities.

Commonly cited benefits of meeting recommended activity levels include reducing risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression. Backed by Government ministers and with the focus on prevention rather than cure, it is hoped that by building health and wellbeing into everyday activities the programme will ease pressure on the NHS and boost 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.

Chief Medical Officer Professor, Chris Whitty, said, “Increasing physical activity has health benefits across the life course. As part of this, we need to make walking and cycling more accessible and safer, as well as access to green space easier and more equitable.

“This will help remove barriers to improving physical activity levels and could significantly improve the health of England’s increasingly urban population.”

Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, said, “I know I am one of many who enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that come with walking or cycling to work or school.

“That’s why this government is investing £616 million over the next four years, on top of £300 million announced in February, to give more people around the country high-quality and healthy ways to get around, and supporting mayors’ plans to create a joined-up network.

As part of the agreement, the Mayors have committed to:

• Work with the Department for Transport, Active Travel England and local authorities to create a country-wide national walking, wheeling and cycling network, comprising local networks that are safe and easy to use. This will give their regions’ 20 million residents access to high-quality, safe routes in their communities.

• 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 initiative comes as recent research shows 1 in 6 early deaths could be prevented with regular moderate exercise. Meanwhile, a study from 2023 to 2024 found that, in England, 35.8% of year 6 children were overweight or living with obesity, with 22.1% living with obesity.

The first wave of improving active travel routes to schools will include the delivery of proven and popular schemes, including school streets, traffic calming measures, new crossings and better pavements, clear of obstructions.

Regional mayors will lead local implementation with interventions tailored to their communities’ needs and develop programmes to enable more active travel, such as walking and cycling buses for children.

The programme will be delivered using regional resources with additional targeted investment from Active Travel England, improving efficiency by combining separate funding streams in a mission-led approach.