Active travel, or walking, wheeling and cycling, is the most sustainable and healthy transport options. They provide huge societal benefits as set out in Gear Change: a bold vision or cycling and walking

To help with getting better quality cycle facilities, the government produced national design guidelines for cycle infrastructure: Local Transport Note 1/20. These should be the standards used for all new cycle infrastructure but all too often this is still not the case and certainly not for National Highways. It gets away with lower quality standards CD143, by designating paths as shared. Perversely this then allows it to build paths to a lower standard (narrower) even though with pedestrians and cyclists mixing, there should be more room not less.

Labour appears to be wavering in its committed to seeing a half of all journeys in our towns and cities walked and cycled by 2030 (the previous government's target). Also, like the Conservatives is refusing to provide the funding to deliver the change needed. Its latest pledge of £616m over 4 years is less than that promised in the early 2020s. It also doesn't restore the unlawful £200m cut made by Rishi Sunak, which we were instrumental in challenging when other organisations were afraid to speak out. The draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS3) doesn't inspire confidence that things have changed either.

For most people their local authority (combined, county, metropolitan or unitary authority) that will be responsible for transport in their area.

If you have any active travel issues, you can contact our own Low Traffic Future or Cycling UK, Living Streets or Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans). You can also contact Wheels for Wellbeing if you want to campaign for inclusive cycling. It is also worth looking at guidance that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced.

All of these bodies have a wealth of information and resources to help you. Cycling UK also has its Cycle Advocacy Network, where you can find local cycle champions. If you can't find what you need or want some wider advice or support, please do get in touch.