Multi-million-pound investments to improve walking and cycling routes in South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has successfully secured a total of £4.86m and West Yorkshire Combined Authorityreceived a £5.5 million boost for active travel from the government agency, Active Travel England.

The Active Travel Fund 4 Extension funding has been secured which to transform walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the region.

Nearly £1 million from the Capability Fund has been allocated for South Yorkshire for bike hire, training and maintenance schemes, with SYMCA securing nearly double what it got last year. The aim of the Fund is to support the development of infrastructure plans and community engagement and training initiatives.

In West Yorkshire over half of the investment (£3 million) will fund six new projects, with communities set to benefit from wider canal towpaths and improved crossing points, as well as improved facilities and infrastructure in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds. An additional £2.5 million ‘Capability Fund’ has been awarded to support behaviour change campaigns and network development across all five West Yorkshire districts, over the next 18 months.