From left to right, David Watson CEO North Yorkshire Sport, National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman, Active Travel Commissioner for York and North Yorkshire Rhiannon Letman-Wade, and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith

Dozens of projects to benefit from £4 million fund to make to make it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle

Improved walking and cycling routes, secure bike storage, and training to boost confidence will be delivered across York and North Yorkshire thanks to the Mayor’s Active Travel Fund.

A total of 39 schemes have secured a share of the £4 million to help make it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel and cycle across the region.

The schemes – led by schools, community groups, local councils and national park authorities – aim to tackle some of the biggest barriers to active travel, including safety concerns, a lack of confidence, and limited access to bikes and facilities.

David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “We know many people want to walk, wheel and cycle more, but too often face barriers, whether that’s concerns about safety, a lack of skills or confidence, or the cost of buying a bike.

“That’s why I launched this fund: to make active travel safer, easier and more accessible for people travelling to school, training, work, healthcare appointments and leisure activities.

“We received a huge number of applications from across the region, showing the demand for better infrastructure, training, and the appetite for more opportunities to make affordable and sustainable travel choices.

“I’m proud to support these 39 schemes, investing in new and improved facilities, building confidence, and creating safer routes. Together, they will help leave a lasting legacy of inclusive active travel, safer school journeys, and healthier, greener, more connected communities for generations to come.”

Projects receiving funding include:

• The Natural Health Service – encouraging walking, wheeling and public transport use, helping to create healthier and more active communities in the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Howardian Hills and Nidderdale,
• Upgrades to a section of canal towpath in Skipton, creating a safer route between residential areas, the town centre, healthcare and public transport
• Improved accessibility on the Cinder Track by removing barriers and introducing adaptive bikes so more people of all abilities can enjoy active travel
• Improvements to routes around York’s Knavesmire and through Bootham Stray, including path widening and lighting
• Fifteen schools from across the region have received a share of £1 million funding, including in Whitby, Selby, York, Harrogate, Ripon, Great Ouseburn, Catterick and Seamer. Measures include providing secure cycle storage, cycle training, bike libraries and maintenance sessions.

In addition, 17 community organisations have secured funding for projects ranging from upgrading routes and underpasses, to delivering monthly cycling sessions at York Racecourse.

Several schemes specifically support groups who face the greatest barriers to walking and cycling, including women, disabled people and people with health conditions.

One of these organisations is Refugee Action York (RAY), which will support refugees and asylum seekers to access bikes, training and maintenance support to improve independence, confidence and access  to services.

Carrie Wheater, CEO of Refugee Action York, said: “We are delighted to have secured funding through the Mayor’s Active Travel Fund, which will help address some of the barriers refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant families and young people in York face in accessing affordable, safe and independent transport.

“This project will increase confidence, independence and mobility, enabling greater and more sustained engagement in education, essential services and community activities across the city.”

 The Active Travel Fund forms part of the Mayor’s £7 million Moving Forward campaign, which aims to create a healthier and more thriving York and North Yorkshire through investment in schemes that support movement, health and connection to the outdoors.

Cllr Malcolm Taylor, Executive Member for Highways and Transportation at North Yorkshire Council, said of the Skipton Towpath scheme: “The upgraded towpath will make a real difference, providing a high‑quality link between residential areas in Skipton, the town centre, hospital and public transport.

“As safe, traffic‑free corridors for walking, wheeling and cycling towpaths play an important role in supporting healthier lifestyles and reducing reliance on cars, helping us move towards a greener future.

“With this route forming a gateway towards the Yorkshire Dales and some of the most picturesque landscapes in the country, we look forward to seeing residents and visitors enjoy everything it has to offer.”

Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said: “We’re grateful to the Mayor for this investment in active travel and excited that it enables us to press on with upgrades to existing key walking, wheeling and cycling routes, providing safe and accessible travel routes to destinations such as York College, the Racecourse, the Nestle factory and York Hospital. Once complete the projects will offer greater choice in how you travel, and by making active travel more convenient we can reduce traffic congestion too.

“The impact of these enhancements will be further boosted by a travel training and route planning package, enabling a wider range of people to benefit from active travel improvements.

“In addition we’re really excited to be partnering with the hospital and providing free loans of cycles to some NHS staff, along with additional cycle parking at the hospital, all of which will help in cutting traffic congestion near the hospital.”

Lizzie Bushby, Member Champion for Recreation Management at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: “We’re delighted to see funding secured for the Threshfield Primary School crossing improvements, which will make it safer and easier for children and families to walk, wheel and cycle to school every day. These types of local schemes are exactly what our own Active Travel Plan is designed to deliver - practical changes that help communities in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to get around safely, sustainably and independently.”

 Joel Brookfield, Director of Recreation and Wellbeing at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “The North York Moors National Park Authority is delighted to receive funding for two separate schemes: the Natural Health Service, which will promote health and wellbeing by helping people enjoy walking, cycling and spending time outdoors across all protected landscapes in North Yorkshire, and the Inclusive Active Travel programme, centred around the Scarborough to Whitby Cinder Track. Rural and coastal communities across our region face persistent barriers to active travel, including high car dependency, social isolation and low confidence in walking, wheeling and cycling. Together, these projects will help more people of all ages and abilities enjoy the health, wellbeing and independence benefits of active travel across York and North Yorkshire.”

 For a full list of successful schemes visit: yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/mayors-active-travel-fund-funded-projects