Clockwise from left to right: Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness, Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith and National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman.
- National Active Travel Network to give healthier and greener travel options to millions across the nation.
- Pledge to deliver an initial 3,500 miles of safer routes to schools, shops and high streets, workplaces and transport hubs.
- Projects will help tackle the country’s inactivity crisis, easing pressure on the NHS and boosting productivity, as part of Government's Plan for Change.
Ministers are backing a coalition of twelve of England’s Combined Authority Mayors who have signed an ambitious joint statement pledging to create a national active travel network, enabling millions of happier, healthier and greener journeys from Berwick to Bristol.
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 yesterday (1 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 published today. 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 health and air quality are poorest, helping to reduce stark health inequalities.
This will help more of their regions’ 20 million residents meet recommended activity levels, reducing risks of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression while supporting the Government’s Plan for Change by easing pressure on the NHS and boosting growth. The new routes and projects will focus on prevention rather than cure, by building health and wellbeing into everyday activities.
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.”
The 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 £616m over the next four years, on top of £300m 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.
"It is a key part of our Plan for Change, boosting local businesses, growing local economies and easing pressure on the NHS."
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 of 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 one in six early deaths could be prevented with regular moderate exercise. Meanwhile, a study from 2023/24 found that, in England, 35.8% of year 6 children were overweight or living with obesity, with 22.1% living with obesity.
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."
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.
Notes to Editors
- Active Travel England (ATE) is the government's executive agency responsible for improving the standards of walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure across England. ATE is also a statutory consultee in the planning system.
- The joint statement can be read here.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:
“As part of our Weaver Network, we are investing in walking, wheeling and cycling to create better neighbourhoods and healthier communities.
“With improved active travel routes that fit seamlessly with buses, trains and trams, we’ll build a better-connected West Yorkshire that works for all.”
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said:
"Whenever possible, Mayors should work together, across political parties, to get improvements for our regions. I’m pleased that we could find agreement on this statement.
"I want our roads to be better for everyone. That includes those who cycle or wheel their way to school. It also includes everyone walking, whose experience we can sometimes overlook. We can get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving — in every sense!"
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“Helping more people to walk, wheel, and cycle around Greater Manchester is at the very heart of the Bee Network and we’re working hard to create a transport system that works for everyone – whether you’re hopping on a tram, catching a bus, or choosing to travel in a more active way.
“We have delivered 136km of active travel routes across Greater Manchester so far and are really seeing the difference this is making, with cycling up and more people choosing active travel over the car for short journeys.
“I’m proud to state my ongoing support for active travel and alongside Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey and our local councils we will grow our network further still, increase the number of School Streets and expand our bike hire scheme, making it even easier and safer for people to get around in ways that are healthy, affordable, and good for the planet.”
Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, said:
"I want South Yorkshire to be the healthiest region in the country. That’s why I'm putting neighbourhoods and schools at the heart of our plans, to make our region the best place for children to walk, wheel and cycle. To give every child the best start in life.
"Our shared commitment as Mayors, that we’ve discussed with government, strengthens our ability to deliver the safer neighbourhoods, healthier journeys, and more routes to opportunities we need – to make South Yorkshire a wealthier, happier, healthier, and better connected place for everyone."
Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said:
“I promised to work with government to get the West moving. Three-quarters of a billion pounds for transport in our region at the Spending Review will do just that, with my active travel pledge with England’s other Mayors another step in the right direction.
“Walking, cycling, and wheeling are an important part of how people get around, with real health benefits. School Streets are something I backed as a councillor and continue to support as the new Mayor, working with council leaders and Active Travel England.
“Active travel is also greener, cutting pollution, which people in the West Country really care about. The better buses, more trains, and mass transit unlocked by unprecedented government funding for transport in our part of the world, will all be better for our planet too.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“London is already reaping the benefits of extensive investment from City Hall in active travel – with 1.33 million cycle journeys daily, over 400km of cycleways and more than 800 school streets to enable more children to walk, wheel and cycle to school.
“I’m committed to growing our cycle network further and making our streets greener and safer as well as ensuring cycling is accessible and affordable across our city. Active travel is key to our capital’s transport network and Transport for London and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mayors nationwide as we build a better, greener London for everyone.”
Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness, said:
“In the North East we're going to build more than 100km of better cycling and walking routes across the region by 2027 - that's a delivery promise that will change lives, and it's just the start of our plans. Better transport means better opportunity, and it's great to see how this fits into a national network."
Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said:
“I want to make it easier and safer for everyone, especially children on the school run, to choose cycling, wheeling and walking for their daily journeys.
“That’s why I’m joining my fellow mayors at this Active Travel England summit – and working with colleagues to make it a reality across the West Midlands.”
Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said:
“In the Liverpool City Region, we’ve already delivered miles of safer routes and introduced more school streets to help take the stress out of the school run - but this is just the beginning.
“Whether it’s nipping to the shops, heading to work, or walking the kids to school, we’re making it easier for people to get about without having to jump in the car. It’s better for your health, your wallet - and it helps clean up the air we all breathe. For me, this is about giving families across our region more choice in how they travel, and making sure those choices are safe, simple and work for everyone.”
Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, said:
“I am proud to stand with my fellow Mayors to pledge a new era in our transport system where we make walking, wheeling and cycling the natural choice for more journeys.
"By delivering safer routes we will make it safer for children to get to school, improve our physical and mental health while reducing our environmental impact.
“We need to make these changes in our rural and coastal communities, as well as in our more urban areas. That is why this week I have just launched a new £4 million active travel fund to support new initiatives.
“In our region, there’s a real opportunity to better connect people to the outdoors and encourage more sustainable travel in our national parks.
“We are removing the barriers to safer, healthier, and more affordable travel for everyone in York and North Yorkshire – unlocking a brighter future for all.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said:
"This is an exciting opportunity to transform how people move through their communities. By making walking, wheeling, and cycling safer, more accessible, and better connected, we can create a national active travel network that reaches 20 million people.”
“Active travel is a team sport, and by working with local authorities and national partners, we’ll link homes, schools, public transport and green spaces—breaking down barriers to physical activity and supporting healthier, cleaner and more vibrant neighbourhoods across England.”
“In the East Midlands, I am leading by example by challenging myself to walk The Loop – a 154-mile active travel route that encompasses my entire region. I want people to see how easy it is to get out and about.”