Mayor of York & North Yorkshire David Skaith has launched his Active Travel Fund.
A prospectus sets out details of the fund – who can apply for grants, and what the money can be used for.
The document points out that 22% of adults and 58% of children in North Yorkshire are inactive. The Mayor sees healthy and active travel as a key mechanism to changing this and achieving his priorities.
‘Increased levels of walking, wheeling and cycling in children and adults can deliver significant health benefits, address inequalities in society through providing access to opportunity, improve air quality through reducing transport-related carbon, and support local communities and economies’.
A key aim of the Active Travel Fund is to drive an increase in the Active Travel Capability rating of the two councils under the Mayor, North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.
The Fund
The fund is £4 million to be spent between November 2025 and April 2028.
There is £2.4 million for larger capital projects. The councils and the National Park authorities can bid for the money for projects costing £100-500,000.
There’s also £1 million for smaller scale projects run by bodies other than local authorities. 60% of this is ‘revenue’ funding.
The rest of the fund will cover costs and expenses, including the cost of hiring an Active Travel Commissioner.
North Yorkshire Council Opposition
A meeting of the Combined Authority discussed the Active Travel Fund. As well as the Mayor and his staff, leaders of the two councils are present.
Leader of North Yorkshire Council Carl Les opposed the proposals.
He said he agrees with ‘the concept of active travel’ but could not support the specific scheme put forward.
This was largely because he wanted all the money to be allocated to the councils, and for the councils to manage spending it.
Eligible Projects
The Mayor wants the fund to contribute to a measurable shift to active travel and reduced dependency on private vehicles.
The money will pay for light-touch infrastructure and behaviour change measures.
Eligible projects include:
- walking paths, and cycle routes with light segregation
- cycle parking, cycle hubs and cycle hangars
- junction improvements for active travel
- 20mph, traffic calming, School Streets and modal filters
- active travel connections to public transport
- safer and more inclusive environments for under-represented groups
- behaviour change initiatives such as cycle training, social prescribing, community bike schemes, walking groups, marketing campaigns and travel plans
There is a requirement for 10% match funding.