Mayor Paul Bristow meets Active Travel Commissioner to champion active travel across the region

Mayor Paul Bristow meets Active Travel Commissioner to champion active travel across the region

Mayor Paul Bristow met with Chris Boardman, the National Active Travel Commissioner yesterday (Tuesday 16th September), to explore opportunities for how the region can accelerate better active travel to create healthier and more convenient  transport choices for residents.  

The discussion focused on improving infrastructure for walking, wheeling and cycling to make it safer, more accessible and attractive to communities – these improvements are key to building a fully integrated transport network. 

The visit highlighted the need for continued investment and partnership working with government to improve active travel infrastructure and create more joined-up routes which connect more people and places. The Mayor and Commissioner spoke about the benefits of reduced congestion, economic and quality of life benefits.  

The Combined Authority’s emerging strategy sets out an ambitious vision for transforming active travel across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough by 2050. It focuses on three core outcomes: enhancing the region’s active travel network, empowering people with greater choice in how they travel and delivering meaningful social and environmental benefits.  

Key objectives include improving public health and wellbeing, reducing reliance on private vehicles and ensuring fairer, more inclusive access to public transport options for all communities. Over the next two years, eight dedicated walking, wheeling and cycling schemes will be rolled out with a particular focus on supporting school-aged children to travel independently. These initiatives will include the implementation of safer crossings and improved infrastructure around school footfall zones. This aims to improve safety, reduce rural isolation and form long-term active travel habits from an early age. 

 With Cambridge already recognised as UK’s ‘cycling capital’ thanks to its flat terrain, extensive cycle routes and strong cycling culture, the wider region is well positioned to build on this success and expand its walking and cycling infrastructure. 

Mayor Paul Bristow said, 

“Active travel isn’t just about getting from A to B, it’s about offering people real choice and creating better-connected communities. My conversation with Chris was about how we make walking, cycling and wheeling a natural part of everyday journeys across the region.  

“Alongside our councils and other partners, we want to ensure better routes that people want to use, whether that’s just to go for a walk, or to cycle to school or to get to work. By improving choice and accessibility, we can make Cambridgeshire and Peterborough healthier, wealthier and happier.” 

National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: 

“It was a pleasure to visit Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority today to catch up with Mayor Bristow. We are very much in agreement that making active travel a safe and easy everyday option means millions more people, young and old, will get more choice in how they move around the region. And what makes it easy and safe is quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.  

“There is a lot of evidence that shows that coherent networks connect people with local businesses and shops, support local economies, reduce congestion costs, and create jobs. Not to mention quietly improving the health of the local population. So, for a region focused on growth and opportunity, these infrastructure investments represent excellent value for money.  

“The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region has fantastic potential to become a model for other combined authorities, showing how strategic partnership working can deliver seamless active travel networks. With the right investment and political leadership, active travel can be made the natural choice for everyday journeys throughout the region. 

“I’m delighted to support Mayor Bristow’s vision for a more connected, sustainable region where everyone can enjoy the freedom that comes with safe, accessible walking, wheeling and cycling routes.”