The UK Government has published its third statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, backed by over £4.5bn of projected investment across England over the next five years.

The strategy sets two clear priorities, making active travel safe and making it feel like the easy choice. Those might sound straightforward, but they represent a meaningful shift in how the government is framing the challenge. It is not just about building infrastructure. It is about removing the barriers that stop people, particularly children and less confident users, from choosing to walk, wheel or cycle in the first place.

The headline targets are 55% of short urban journeys made by active modes by 2035, and 60% of 5 to 16 year olds usually walking, wheeling or cycling to school by the same year. £1.1bn has been ringfenced for Active Travel England, which will oversee delivery alongside local authorities.

The new performance framework covering infrastructure, travel behaviour and wider health and economic outcomes will be key to keeping momentum going. It is good to see accountability built in from the start.