Mayor Andy Burnham signs pledge to deliver ‘extensive walking, wheeling & cycling network’

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has released a joint statement with other Mayors of England to increase healthy and green travel options to millions of residents across the city-region.

Mayor Andy Burnham joins a coalition of twelve of England’s Combined Authority Mayors pledging to create a new national walking, wheeling and cycling network, ‘enabling millions more happy, healthy and green journeys.’

In Greater Manchester, this means a commitment to continuing the city-region’s ambitious plans around the Bee Network. Working alongside local authorities and partners, by 2027, TfGM anticipates 176km of Bee Network standard segregated walking, wheeling, and cycling routes will have been completed across the city-region.

As part of the agreement, the Mayors have committed to:

• Work with the Department for Transport, Active Travel England and local authorities to create a country-wide national walking, wheeling and cycling network, comprising of local networks that are safe and easy to use.
• Transform the school run by delivering high-quality, safer routes in neighbourhoods nationwide.
• Boost regional integrated transport networks by giving people easy walking, wheeling and cycling access to buses, trams and trains which will link to new housing and support local economic growth.

Specifically for Manchester, plans include:

• Increasing the number of School Streets to 60 in the next year. The long-term goal is to increase the number of School Streets to 100 by 2028.
• Building a network of connected routes that will link up or extend routes on the existing cycle network, aligning with neighbourhood improvements to connect local communities to the rest of the Bee Network.
• Integrating accessible walking, wheeling and cycling routes to make it easier for people to access public transport.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Helping more people to walk, wheel, and cycle around Greater Manchester is at the very heart of the Bee Network and we’re working hard to create a transport system that works for everyone – whether you’re hopping on a tram, catching a bus, or choosing to travel in a more active way.

“We have delivered 136km of active travel routes across Greater Manchester so far and are really seeing the difference this is making, with cycling up and more people choosing active travel over the car for short journeys.

“I’m proud to state my ongoing support for active travel and alongside Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey and our local councils we will grow our network further still, increase the number of School Streets and expand our bike hire scheme, making it even easier and safer for people to get around in ways that are healthy, affordable, and good for the planet.”

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said: “Increasing physical activity has health benefits across the life course. As part of this, we need to make walking and cycling more accessible, and safer, as well as access to green space easier and more equitable. This will help remove barriers to improving physical activity levels and could significantly improve the health of England’s increasingly urban population.”