People power gathers pace as Combined Authority seeks ‘active travel’ lead

People power gathers pace as Combined Authority seeks ‘active travel’ lead

Plans to step up the pace on creating opportunity for ‘people-powered’ travel across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire gathered fresh momentum as the Combined Authority launched a major recruitment campaign for the ‘active travel’ lead within its transport team.

This role will provide expert technical know-how and support for the soon-to-be-appointed Active Travel Advocate, the transport team, the wider Combined Authority and the councils which make it up.

Working closely with partners and stakeholders, the new Active Travel Manager will take a lead in enabling well-connected active travel for the people of Cambridgeshire, a network which creates links in rural, urban and city areas.

Last month, the Combined Authority and its delivery partners Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council won £822,920 for technical expertise to help and inspire more people get walking or cycling short distances.

The bid included funding the Active Travel Advocate for the Combined Authority area, a role that would work with the proposed active travel centre-of-excellence at Cambridgeshire County Council to push forward active travel and create a new Active Travel website for residents.

Over recent years, increasing numbers of UK cities, regions, and city-regions like Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have started to focus their activities more closely on walking and cycling, appointing regional Cycling and Walking Commissioners (or equivalent roles like the Active Travel Advocate being recruited for this area) to steer the increase in active travel capability.

The Active Travel Manager will be responsible for:

• Developing active travel plans and programmes
• Securing funding for active travel initiatives
• Collaborating to promote active travel
• Researching/ reporting active travel trends, best practice and benefits
• Providing guidance and support to active travel initiatives
• Ensuring initiatives comply with relevant laws and regulations