OPINION
air quality are poorest. Something we at Cycling UK have highlighted through our women’s safety campaign, My ride. Our right. This substantial network will focus on practical, everyday journeys that millions of people make regularly, transforming how they choose to travel.
The programme, set to launch in autumn 2025, will begin with improvements around 1,000 schools, creating 300 safer routes for walking, wheeling, and cycling. Cynics might say (with some justification) that child-centric active travel measures are less controversial for politicians. After all, who would argue against healthier children? But this school-focused approach recognises that the daily school run represents one of the most significant opportunities to shift travel patterns while establishing healthy habits from an early age.
advantages while supporting local businesses and economic growth. National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman captured the transformative potential of the initiative, explaining that the
network will do far more than simply encourage walking and cycling. “People will only consider travelling
actively if it is easy and safe”, he noted, emphasising that safety and accessibility are fundamental to success.
BY COMBINING RESOURCES AND COORDINATING ACROSS REGIONS AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, THE MAYORS AIM TO CREATE A TRULY NATIONAL NETWORK.
Addressing health inequalities The timing of this initiative is particularly crucial for the sector given England’s growing health challenges. Recent research highlighted by the government shows that one in six early deaths could be prevented with regular moderate exercise. Perhaps more alarming, studies from 2023-2024 found that 35.8% of year 6 children in England were overweight or living with obesity, with 22.1% classified as obese. Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty duly emphasised the health imperative behind the initiative, stating that encouraging physical activity has benefits across the entire life course – especially if healthier habits are established early. The network specifically targets areas with the poorest health outcomes and air quality, directly addressing health inequalities that have stubbornly persisted across different regions and communities.
Government investment and support Whether the funding to meet this project will prove to be sufficient remains to be seen, but this political ambition could have a profoundly positive effect on the cycling industry in England. We know when there’s investment in safe, well- built infrastructure, more people cycle. The government announced £616 million over the next four years at the recent Spending Review, building on £300 million announced earlier in February, but this still falls short of what had originally been pledged for active travel by the previous government – before they slashed the final funding. Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood highlighted the personal and societal benefits, noting how walking or cycling to work or school provides both physical and mental health
26 | September 2025
Yes, but how? The challenge of practical implementation The mayors have committed to several specific actions that will make the network a reality. They will work with the Department for Transport, Active Travel England, and local authorities to create safe, easy-to-use local networks that serve their regions’ 20 million residents. The focus on integration is particularly significant, as the network will
provide easy walking, wheeling, and cycling access to buses, trams, and trains, creating a comprehensive sustainable transport ecosystem.
With the government’s Integrated National Transport Strategy due later this year, this ideal will soon be tested. Local implementation will be tailored to each community’s specific needs, with regional mayors leading development programmes that could include initiatives like walking and cycling buses for children. The first wave of improvements will feature proven interventions such as School Streets, traffic calming measures, new crossings, and better pavements cleared of obstructions.
A model for the future? This collaborative approach represents a significant shift from previous piecemeal efforts to improve active travel infrastructure. By combining resources and coordinating across regions and in partnership with national government, the mayors aim to create a truly national network. The initiative demonstrates that political cooperation can rise above party lines when addressing shared challenges around public health, environmental sustainability, and economic growth – and that is to be applauded. The proof of the pudding will, of course, be in the eating. As the network develops from autumn 2025, it will serve as a crucial test case for how England can build the active travel infrastructure needed to support a healthier, more sustainable future. If successful, this mayoral coalition could establish a blueprint for similar collaborative approaches to other local infrastructure challenges, proving that when regional leaders unite around shared goals, they can deliver transformative change that benefits millions of people across the country. We shall see.
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