New £4 million fund to make walking and cycling safer across North Yorkshire
The Mayor David Skaith is launching the scheme
Groups across York and North Yorkshire will be able to bid for a share of a new £4 million fund to encourage more active travel across the region.
The new fund could support a wide variety of activities aimed at building safer streets across York and North Yorkshire, including:
• New facilities, such as secure cycle parking
• Repairing or updating facilities
• Travel behaviour change initiatives, such as School Streets
• Training
• Community bike schemes
A new Active Travel Commissioner will oversee the fund as part of their role to provide direction and expertise to deliver the Mayor’s vision of a comprehensive network of lit, well-maintained walking, cycling and wheeling routes across York and North Yorkshire.
David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy walking, wheeling and cycling, but we need to work harder to make it the natural choice for more journeys.
“We recently boosted existing projects with £20 million. Now we are recruiting a dedicated Active Travel Commissioner and we’re doubling the funding available for new initiatives.
“This isn't just about moving people around. It means affordable, sustainable choices for everyone, safer journeys to school, and reducing our environmental impact.
“We’re open to ideas that work for all our communities, and this significant £4 million fund can support everything from secure cycle parking to school streets programmes and more.
"Given the rural nature of much of our region, we really want to enable schemes that promote active travel in rural villages and market towns, as well as in urban areas.”