Cambridgeshire and Peterborough get government nod for excellence in active travel

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough get government nod for excellence in active travel

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has been awarded level 3 out of 4 for its approach to active travel by Active Travel England.

The authority was granted this rating in recognition of strong local leadership, alongside having a significant network in place for active travel, a growing number of people choosing to walk, wheel and cycle and comprehensive plans to do more.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough join a small handful of local authorities with this advanced rating, having been assessed against local leadership, plans and delivery record.  Read more:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-active-travel-capability-ratings/local-authority-active-travel-capability-ratings-accessible-version#how-were-they-calculated

Ratings are used to guide the allocation of funding for active travel, with higher rated authorities able to access more funding.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson said: “This is a gold star on the hard work that has taken place over recent years to provide residents with greener, healthier, and more enjoyable ways to travel.

“We are proud of the work we are doing with our partners to improve cycleways and walkways, alongside the public offering of e-scooters and e-bikes, encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle across the region.

“Since 2020, we have been leading the charge with active travel, first rolling out e-scooters, and since adding e-bikes to the mix. This action has led to 1 million fewer car journeys and saved 500 tonnes of C02 emissions, a huge achievement.

“The announcement today will enable us to go further, faster and unlock more funding to make real our ambitious plans to see Cambridgeshire and Peterborough become one of the best and safest places to get about by ‘person-power’, whether on foot or by wheeling or pedalling.”

Councillor Angus Ellis, Peterborough City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We are fully committed to working with partners, including the Combined Authority, to encourage and provide more active transport options for residents, tying in with our main goal to reduce carbon emissions across Peterborough.

“I’m delighted that Peterborough has achieved this excellent rating which demonstrates that the work we are doing is having positive effect and we are delivering high-quality projects enabling more people to walk and cycle.”

Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee, said: “Embedding Active travel in highways is one of our top priorities and is an integral part of our vision to ‘create a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire’. We’re proud to be working with our partners, including the Combined Authority, to help residents leave the car at home and make active travel the ‘go to’ option for local journeys in our county.

“It’s fantastic that our approach to active travel in Cambridgeshire has been recognised by Active Travel England with this new rating. When people are able to walk, cycle or wheel instead of driving, we all benefit from safer streets, cleaner air, stronger communities, and better health.”

Active Travel England was established by national government to drive up standards of active travel infrastructure and support councils to deliver high-quality schemes that enable more people to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday trips.