Active travel is on the rise. With an unmistakable upward trend in the number of walking-all-the-way trips and more than one million daily cycling journeys in London, active travel proves to have taken a special place in routines and habits across our capital city. These trends act solely in our favour, supporting our battle against the climate and public health crises we face. It is no secret, however, that walking and cycling infrastructure requires a significant investment to ensure improved accessibility and safety, and encourage even more people to get outdoors, hop on their bikes or walk a little longer.

In delivering the Autumn Budget on October 30, Rachel Reeves announced a further £100m capital funding for active travel in England in 2025-26. This funding is allocated specifically to support local authorities to install cycling infrastructure and upgrade pavements and paths, encouraging sustainable travel across the country. Although the final active travel budget for the year is likely to fall short of the “unprecedented levels of funding” promised in August, the provided capital will support councils in ensuring the existence of safe routes and hints on improvements on the National Cycle Network. Sustrans CEO Xavier Brice responded to the budget announcement saying: “Amid a tight spending landscape, it's great to see investment in transport. Alongside investment in buses, rail, and fixing potholes and pavements, we welcome the additional £100 million investment in cycling and walking paths, reversing previous cuts. This will boost the economy, improve people’s health and help us all get around."

This additional capital complements the £101m government funding for high-quality walking and cycling routes which was announced in March 2024. Funded by the government agency Active Travel England, the scheme aims to unlock sustainable travel options for people across the country, particularly in deprived rural areas. Including projects focused on safety and accessibility of walking and cycling routes, the scheme also supports route development across National Parks. It must, however, be mentioned that these funding rounds are only a partial recovery from the 75% cut in the active travel budgets which was passed in 2023.

With almost three-quarters of trips in England being less than five miles long, it is essential to develop an integrated transport system with active travel at its very heart. This is especially since every £1 spent on cycling and walking schemes leads to £5.62 worth of wider benefits for local economies. Research shows that, despite having the willingness to cycle more, many people are put off by the lack of safe routes and fear of sharing roads with motor traffic. An improved cycling infrastructure would lead to an even greater upward trend in active travel, supporting our aims to reduce carbon emissions and improving public health across the country.

More about Hudjo

Hudjo is an Airbnb-style platform that offers a network of trusted locations around London where you can park your bike safely and securely, eliminating the risk of theft.

We encourage cycling and active travel across the city by providing you with a worry-free opportunity for bike parking within the spare spaces of small businesses such as cafes, bars, shops, and offices.

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