Cycle and walk routes cash is game changer
MILLIONS of pounds worth of funding allocated for more safe cycling and walking routes in Coventry has been hailed a game-changer for the city.
The £12.6 million from Active Travel England for 10 projects across the West Midlands will also enable Transport for West Midlands (TFWM) and council partners to deliver projects in Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Transport Minister Jesse Norman MP visited Coventry’s Binley Cycleway to meet local residents and schoolchildren already benefitting from new cycling infrastructure to launch Active Travel Fund 4 nationally.
New projects being funded include cycle safety measures around Coventry city centre (£2.3m), connection linking New Century Park development to the Binley Road Cycleway (£550,000) and extension of the completed Coundon Cycle Route to serve the new developments at Keresley (£2.2m). Construction must commence by the end of March 2024.
This is the region’s fourth allocation from the Active Travel Fund (ATF). TFWM, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has previously secured grants totalling almost £34 million since 2020 to implement a wide range of safe cycle and walking schemes.
This is in addition to £1.05bn funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), concentrated on sustainable modes including improvements for active and public transport.
Among them is Binley Cycleway 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 progressing with about two-thirds open to the public.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “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, who was joined by Government Transport Minister Jesse Norman, National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman, Coventry City Council cabinet members Cllrs Jim O’boyle and Patricia Hetherton and pupils from Sacred Heart Primary School for a visit to the Binley Cycleway, said: “This funding is welcome and helps us continue implementing our plans to make cycling and walking the natural first choice for short journeys.
“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.”
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.