The West Midlands will benefit from more safe cycling and walking routes following the award of £12.6 million from Active Travel England.
This funding will enable Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and council partners to deliver ten new cycling and walking projects in Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
To launch Active Travel Fund 4 nationally, Transport Minister Jesse Norman MP visited Coventry’s Binley Cycleway to meet local residents and school children already benefitting from new cycling infrastructure.
The region has set out ambitious plans to increase journeys by cycling, walking or wheeling in order to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions, improve air quality and improve the region’s health.
West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner Adam Tranter, National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman, Transport Minister Jesse Norman and local resident Eve on the Binley Cycleway in Coventry
New projects being funded include the following:
Construction on these projects must commence by the end of March 2024.
This is the region’s fourth allocation from the Active Travel Fund (ATF). TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has previously secured grants totalling almost £34 million since 2020 which has been used to implement a wide range of safe cycle and walking schemes including bike parking, safe cycle lanes and provide cycle training for communities. This is in addition to £1.05bn funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), which is concentrated on sustainable modes including improvements for active and public transport.
Among them is the Binley Cycleway in Coventry, which has been part funded through the second round of ATF, and when fully completed will link the city centre to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. Work is well progressed with about two-thirds of the route open to the public.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “Over recent years we have invested heavily in our active travel infrastructure, through schemes such as Binley Cycleway and West Midlands Cycle Hire. This is because we know that many more people will cycle if it is safer and more convenient for them to do so.
“We need to build a comprehensive network and this funding helps us continue this work. We want more people to choose active travel because it is better for the environment, can help reduce traffic congestion and it’s great for both our physical and mental health. And this new funding means that, along with our council partners, we can deliver infrastructure to make it even easier for people to choose active travel.”
Adam Tranter, West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner, said: “This funding from Government is welcome and helps us continue implementing our plans to make cycling and walking the natural first choice for short journeys in the region. As well as accelerating delivery we are working hard to develop a network pipeline of schemes ready for future funding opportunities; I believe this will help us secure even more funding for the region in future.”
Adam was joined by Government Transport Minister Jesse Norman, National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardmanm Coventry City Council cabinet members Cllrs Jim O’Boyle and Patricia Hetherton, as well as pupils from Sacred Heart Primary School for a visit to the Binley Cycleway this week.
Councillor Patricia Hetherton, cabinet member for city services said, “We know that the provision of segregated cycleways in Coventry is encouraging people to get on their bikes for leisure and for local journeys.
“It’s great to see people of all ages enjoying the cycle lanes – but it’s especially good to see younger people using them – hopefully setting active and healthy travel choices for life.”
These new schemes will form part of the emerging Starley Network. Named in honour of the Starley family of Coventry industrialists who pioneered bicycle manufacturing, the Starley Network pulls together almost 500 miles of existing routes and towpaths, planned cycling infrastructure and safe walking areas.
