Over £850,000 has been secured by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to support new schemes to encourage more people to leave their cars at home.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris cycling | Photo courtesy of WECA
Plans include new pedestrian crossings, as well as free cycle training lessons for adults, children and families at venues across the West of England, and grants to promote walking and cycling.
Over half of people in Bath and North East Somerset think there should be more investment in walking and cycling schemes, according to the charity Sustrans.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who leads the West of England Combined Authority, has allocated more than £14 million to boosting walking and cycling since being elected in May 2021.
He said: “A major priority for the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is encouraging as many locals as possible to walk and cycle, especially for shorter everyday journeys.
“This is yet more great news for local people who want to hop on two wheels or get from A to B by taking a stroll and getting some fresh air in the process.
“I am proud that the Mayoral Combined Authority is getting on delivering vital schemes to promote and boost walking and cycling for the health and other reasons we all know about, not least to cut those traffic jams and slash our emissions at pace.”
Schemes already funded by WECA to boost cycling and walking include improving the region’s cycle routes such as via the A4 Upper Bristol Road in Bath, and Keynsham Road route, connecting the Bristol and Bath Railway Path at Bitton Station to Keynsham Train Station.
