Active travel targets at risk as national strategy set for delay

20/02/2025 | DOMINIC BROWNE

Active travel targets at risk as national strategy set for delay

The Government looks set to miss key active travel targets and is slipping behind schedule on the third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS 3), Highways can reveal.

The current CWIS 2 started in April 2021 and ends this March. The Department for Transport (DfT) has not launched a consultation on a third strategy yet, as it is legally obliged to do before publishing one, suggesting it could miss the March deadline for a new CWIS to be in place.

Under the Infrastructure Act 2015, if a CWIS is not in place the transport secretary is obliged to 'lay before Parliament a report explaining why a strategy has not been set, and set a strategy as soon as may be reasonably practicable'.

The Act also states that ‘before setting or varying a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy the Secretary of State must consult such persons as he or she considers appropriate’.

As the consultation on the first CWIS ran for two months, the DfT may have missed the March deadline and so transport secretary Heidi Alexander will have to provide an explanation to Parliament on the delay.

The DfT said it was currently scoping out options for the third CWIS and will consult stakeholders before the publication of the strategy, as required by the 2015 Infrastructure Act.

A DfT spokesperson said: 'Walking and cycling has significant health and environmental benefits, which is why we recently announced a nearly £300m boost for 300 miles of new cycle tracks and footpaths.

'This will lead to 43,000 fewer sick days every year, easing pressure on the NHS, and will add £9m to the economy as we deliver our Plan for Change. We will set out our plans for active travel investment beyond 2025 in due course.'

Targets in doubt

The Government is also struggling to meet CWIS targets. 

Following on from CWIS 1, the DfT confirmed the following targets for 2025 in CWIS 2:

  • increase the percentage of short journeys in towns and cities that are walked or cycled from 41% in 2018 to 2019 to 46% in 2025
  • increase walking activity, where walking activity is measured as the total number of walking stages per person per year, to 365 stages per person per year in 2025 (this was updated from 300 in CWIS 1)
  • double cycling, where cycling activity is measured as the estimated total number of cycling stages made each year, from 0.8 billion stages in 2013 to 1.6 billion stages in 2025
  • increase the percentage of children aged 5 to 10 who usually walk to school from 49% in 2014 to 55% in 2025

Active Travel England confirmed to Highways that the latest figures, from 2023, show:

  • Percentage of short journeys in towns and cities: 43% in 2023
  • Walking stages per person per year: 325 in 2023
  • Total number of cycling stages made each year: 0.9bn in 2023
  • Percentage of children aged 5 to 10 who usually walk to school: 49% in 2023

Based on the current rate of progress, these targets are likely to be missed. For instance, the estimated total number of cycling stages made each year has only progressed by 0.1bn in the last 12 years. To make the target, these stages would have had to increase by a further 0.7bn, by the time the official 2025 figures come out next year.  

An Active Travel England spokesperson said: 'Since being established in 2022, we have invested more than £500m to deliver hundreds of active travel schemes across the country, while training councils to help them build infrastructure that is safe and accessible for all road users.

'We are working alongside the Department for Transport as it prepares to establish renewed objectives for active travel in the next Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS3).'

Chris Boardman, a National Active Travel Commissioner for Active Travel England, was recently quizzed by the Transport Committee.

Mr Boardman pointed out that 'our funding [has] fluctuated massively' and that 'the political landscape has fluctuated quite considerably since we were formed'.

He added: 'In fact, almost from day one we had a very strong mandate and direction to increase levels of cycling... We were very clear on our purpose. Then very quickly, as ATE became established, the political priorities shifted.'

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Electrical Design Engineer

Grade 9 £34,314 to £37,938 - Grade 10 £37,035 to £40,476 - Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 - Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 p.a.
The Construction Consultancy Services (CCS) team provide client-side construction consultancy services across a range of professional disciplines to d Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Park Operations Assistant - Thorndon Country Park

Up to £12540.50 per annum
This is a permanent, part time position on an annualised hours contract. This means you will be contracted to work a minimum of 964.59 hours per yea England, Essex, Brentwood
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Senior Highways Engineer

£50,754 – £53,607 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Highways Capital Lead

£47,754 - £50,788
To be responsible for management of the Regional Highway Capital Delivery Teams South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Development Management Engineer

£37,938 - £44,711
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Head of Highways

£66,366 - £85,284 pa
Highway Operations is a large division within the Planning, Growth & Infrastructure. Enfield (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Enfield London Borough Council

Circular Economy Officer - FTC till the 31st March 26

£26526.00 - £31208.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
... England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Director Highways, Transport & Waste Management

up to £120k
There for Nottinghamshire. There for each other. There for you. Nottinghamshire
Recruiter: Nottinghamshire County Council

Director of Highways and Transportation

£126,909
We’re seeking a dynamic and innovative leader to spearhead our Highways and Transportation services. Essex
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Senior Structures Technician

£32,654 - £36,124 plus circa £2000 - £4000 OT (variable
To lead on the planning, delivery and reporting of the highway structures General Inspection programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Assistant Director of Place Operations

£85,962 to £93,267
Bury is a proud and prosperous borough Bury, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bury Council

Career Grade Transport Planner (Carer Grade 6-8)

Grade 06 (£29,093 - £32,654) TO Grade 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a forward thinking and dynamic transport authority located in the heart of the North West Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Performance and Assurance Manager

£Competitive
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated Principal Performance and Assurance Manager to join our Senior Management Team SBIM Avonmouth, Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager to join our dynamic Area 12 West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Amey

Electrician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for two Permanent Electricians Tingley, Wakefield
Recruiter: Amey

Principal Engineer – Structures Capital Delivery

£43,693 - £47,754
To act as one of the Agent's technical experts for highway structures schemes and related issues South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer Programme Management

£36,124 - £39,513
To support the Principal Engineer ensuring effective co-ordination, programming and contract administration. South Wales
Recruiter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW