Mayor launches £1 million Active Travel Fund

Schools and communities across York and North Yorkshire are set to benefit from a £1 million fund aimed at transforming everyday journeys.

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, launched the Active Travel Fund at Oatlands Junior School in Harrogate, where more than 90 per cent of pupils now walk, wheel or cycle to school following a series of local initiatives.

The mayor says the fund, which forms part of his wider £7 million Moving Forward campaign to promote healthier lifestyles and stronger connections to the outdoors, will back projects that improve walking routes, increase accessibility through measures such as dropped kerbs, deliver cycle training and create safer spaces for schemes including School Streets and bike buses.

Secure cycle storage and behaviour change programmes are also eligible.

Mayor Skaith said: “Walking, wheeling and cycling should be part of a safer, happier school run. 

“It’s fun, it’s healthy, and it’s precious quality time for children at the start and end of the day.

“That’s why I’m kickstarting a revolution in active travel. 

“Through the mayor’s Active Travel Fund, I’m putting power into the hands of local people to create safer routes to build healthier, greener, and better connected places for generations to come.

“We're backing communities with this £1 million investment, supporting practical, local initiatives that make a real difference on our streets and outside our school gates.”

Drew Morley, deputy headteacher at Oatlands Junior School, added: “We are delighted to see the launch of the Mayor’s Active Travel Fund for communities today.

“It will be fantastic for other school children in the region to benefit from the road safety and active travel initiatives here like the school street, 20mph scheme and Oatlands Bike Bus, which enable safer, active and healthier journeys to and from school.”

The £1 million pot forms part of a wider £4 million programme to double investment in walking, wheeling and cycling, with more than £2 million already earmarked for public bodies, including local councils.

Rhiannon Letman-Wade, active travel commissioner for York and North Yorkshire, added: “The schemes running in Harrogate are exactly the kind of projects we want to see more of across the region. 

‘They show how a community can secure much-needed improvements and create safer streets for children and the wider community.

“This fund is about empowering communities to take the lead, supported by targeted investment, so that together we can provide opportunities for people across our city, towns, rural and coastal areas to make more affordable and sustainable travel choices.”

Community organisations, charities, businesses and schools can apply before April 10.

See here for further details on how to apply.

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