OPINION
IMAGE BY JACEL HERBUT ON PEXELS England’s Mayors united for Active Travel? I
n a move described as ‘groundbreaking’ and one ‘that could reshape how millions of people travel across England’, twelve of England’s combined authority mayors have stepped up
for cycling and walking. Together, they have signed an ambitious joint statement pledging to create a national active travel network, supported by the government and launched in July 2025. This collaborative initiative is one of the most significant and promising commitments to sustainable transport infrastructure I’ve seen in recent years, bringing with it the hope of delivering safer, healthier travel options for us all.
Too good to be true? A cross-party coalition for change Impressively, the coalition brings together mayors from across the political spectrum, demonstrating rare unity on the theme of active travel infrastructure – so often used as a political wedge issue. The 12 mayors include nine Labour, two Conservative, plus Luke Campbell, the Reform UK mayor of
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Hull and East Yorkshire. Andrea Jenkyns, the other Reform mayor representing Greater Lincolnshire, has been somewhat of an outlier and has not taken steps to support the pledge. All signatories have committed to working together despite their political differences. Notable signatories include Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin, and
West Midlands’ Richard Parker, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan also adding his support to the agreement. Most interestingly, the initiative was formally launched
following a high-profile meeting in York, where regional leaders gathered with National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman and the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, underscoring and unifying the benefits of cycling and walking more for society.
An ambitious 3,500-mile network At the heart of this pledge lies a commitment to deliver an initial 3,500 miles of safer routes connecting housing to schools and high streets, targeting areas where health and
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