What is the fund?
The £4 million fund aims to make it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle across York and North Yorkshire. Active Travel has enormous benefits for physical and mental health, while also supporting our environment and the local economy.
Applications are currently open to community organisations, businesses and charities until Friday 10 April via North Yorkshire Sport. View the application guidance and apply here.
Why have we created this fund?
We want to provide opportunities for people across our city, towns, rural and coastal areas to make affordable, sustainable choices, and enjoy safer journeys to school and work.
To do this, we’re investing in our communities to support a positive and long-lasting change in the region.
- Active travel reduces the burden on healthcare systems by lowering the rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. £700m of health economic benefits are associated with active commuting alone (WHO, Scotland)
- People who exercise for around 30 minutes a day are found to take around 25 per cent less short-term sick leave
- Average cycling trip distance is longer than walking, so good cycling networks could increase the area with access to public transport modes twenty-fold
- In other areas of the country, such as London (TFL) – 85 per cent of business districts see cycling as important to business performance, and 95 per cent say the same for walking
- Every £1 spent on active travel infrastructure returns an average of £5.6, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
What projects does the fund support?
The fund is designed to support projects that encourage more walking, wheeling, or cycling. This could be through initiatives such as:
- Improving walking routes
- Making routes more accessible, for example installing dropped kerbs
- Developing School Streets
- Providing safe cycle storage
- Offering cycle training
Who can apply?
Applications are currently open to active travel and community organisations, businesses and charities until Friday 10 April 2026 via North Yorkshire Sport (link below).
Applications from public bodies such as Local Authorities, National Park Authorities, Public Statutory bodies (for example the Canal & River Trust) and other similar public bodies, closed on Friday 27 February 2026.
How much funding is available?
Public bodies such as National Parks, Canal and River Trust and local councils can apply for grants from £100,000 up to £500,000 per project.
Active travel and community-based organisations, businesses, and charities will be able to apply for grants from £5,000 up to £100,000.
How do I apply?
The Mayor’s Active Travel Fund is separated into two applications streams.
Active travel and community organisations, businesses and charities can view the application guidance and apply through North Yorkshire Sport’s webpage from Wednesday 25 February until Friday 10 April 2026.
Applications from public bodies opened on 12 December 2026 and closed on Friday 27 February 2026.
Active Travel Commissioner
The Active Travel Commissioner for York and North Yorkshire, Rhiannon Letman-Wade, was appointed in October 2025. The Commissioner is responsible for developing opportunities for greater active travel in the region and will oversee delivery of the Mayor’s Active Travel Fund.
Get in touch
If you have any further questions, please fill in the following form and a member of the team will be in touch.
