Greater Manchester gets £20m for walking and cycling upgrades

Greater Manchester will get more than £20m to spend on walking and cycling improvements.

Local transport minister Simon Lightwood MP announced the £20.8m pot of cash during a visit to Stockport on 12 February, where he said cyclists and pedestrians across the country have had to put up with “really poor infrastructure” for too long.

Part of a £291m national package from Active Travel England, the money will be used to build ‘high quality cycle tracks and footpaths’ as well as safer crossings and junctions for ‘all road users’.

Vernon Everitt, transport commissioner for Greater Manchester, said the cash will make “a very meaningful difference” in the region, alongside public transport improvements through the Bee Network.

He added: “Sixty percent of the journeys that are made in Greater Manchester are made as a car driver or a car passenger, and many of those are essential because people don’t have an alternative.

“But a number of those journeys you could convert into public transport or active travel, particularly the shorter journeys.”

Mr Everitt said the money would be used to improve walking facilities and connections to public transport, build more segregated cycle lanes, support school streets, and reduce road danger.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said walking, wheeling and cycling are “at the heart of the Bee Network.”

He added: “Our plan to connect 95pc of our residents to within 400m of high-quality active travel routes is arguably the boldest in the country.

“We’re already seeing more people choose active travel over the car for short journeys. This latest funding will help us build on our success to date and demonstrates confidence – at the highest level – in the Bee Network.

“The more people we can persuade to leave the car at home, the more we will make the traffic flow and the roads better for everyone.”

The new funding will help to create more than 300 miles of new walkways and cycle lanes across the country, which the government says will help people make 30m more journeys by bike or foot every year.

This includes more than 20m new walk-to-school journeys by children and their parents.

Cycle lanes and walkways funded from the money will lead to 43,000 fewer sick days a year nationally, bosses believe, due to the health benefits of increased active travel, easing pressure on the NHS and helping people live healthier lives.

Chris Boardman, national active travel commissioner, said: “Making it as simple and as safe as possible for everyone to walk, wheel or cycle to where they need to be is one of the most effective actions we can take to improve the nation’s health, economy and net zero credentials all in one.

“Whether it’s for going to school, work, the shops or just out and about for some fresh air, active travel is the only transport option that offers free exercise, zero emissions and no risk of getting stuck in traffic.

“These benefits have already been well proven in countries across Europe and beyond – and this funding will help ensure we experience them for ourselves, by making our towns, cities and villages happier, healthier and greener places to live.”

The £291m national funding package includes:

• £222.5m to councils for new local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, alongside community engagement and training
• £30m to provide Bikeability cycle training to children
• £30m to the Sustrans charity to deliver improvements to the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of signed active travel routes
• £8.5m for Cycling UK, Living Streets and Modeshift to deliver walking, wheeling and cycling initiatives in schools and communities.

Declan Carey, Local Democracy Reporter