Walking, wheeling, and cycling across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is set to become safer, more accessible, and enjoyable, thanks to a £6.5 million investment from government body Active Travel England.
The funding will enable the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, to design, upgrade and build paths that will improve everyday journeys for people across the region.
In December 2024, £1.6 million was awarded to enable improvements to be delivered within two years, making it easier for more people to feel confident choosing walking, wheeling, or cycling as part of their daily routine.
Whether it’s getting to work, school, college, or simply enjoying time outdoors, the new schemes will ensure safer, more convenient routes for everyone.
Improvements from the first funding round (Active Travel Fund 5) will provide improvements that make every day travel more pleasant and convenient, including:
- Removing barriers on walkways and cycle paths, allowing people to move freely.
- Wider footpaths and safer school routes, helping children travel to school safely away from traffic.
- Upgraded solar lights in the floor to improve visibility and create a safer experience day and night.
- Easier crossings at side roads and roundabouts, ensuring safer access for walkers, wheelers, and cyclists.
Further funding, of £4.9 million, was awarded in February 2025 to focus on the delivery of high-quality walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure, people focused activities and training for officers.
The overall investment will bring a host of benefits to people across the region, including:
- Safer walking routes – Helping adults fit more steps into their day and making it easier for families to enjoy the outdoors together.
- Better access for wheelers – Enhancing journeys for people using wheelchairs, prams, buggies, scooters, cargo bikes, and mobility aids.
- Improved safety for cyclists – Creating clearer, more protected spaces for people to cycle with confidence.
Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “When I first came into post, I pledged to raise the regions’ active travel profile both locally and nationally.
“It is clear that there has been a boost to our ability to provide a safe and pleasant environment for people to make a choice in how they travel the shorter journeys.
“This investment is fantastic news for our region and a real improvement for those who walk, wheel or cycle. Comparing Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s allocations to other Combined Authorities it can be seen that, per head, we have received the most funding, this is a real vote of confidence from central government for our region.
“Not only will this improve health and wellbeing, but it will also help reduce congestion and cut air pollution, making Cambridgeshire and Peterborough a greener, healthier, and more resilient region.
“I’m delighted to see these improvements being delivered quickly, ensuring residents can feel the benefits as soon as possible.”
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I’m pleased this additional funding from Active Travel England for Cambridgeshire has been given the green light. This will help us to deliver more active travel schemes and is on top of 17 schemes we’ve already delivered in the past two years.
“Active travel is one of our top priorities and is an integral part of our vision to ‘create a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire’.
“We want travel across the county to be safer and more sustainable environmentally – which is part of our ambitions. Active travel is at the heart of achieving this. By giving people options and enabling them to leave the car at home we can all feel the benefits of safer streets, more interactive communities, cleaner air, and better health.”
Cllr Angus Ellis, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport at Peterborough City Council, said: “This is fantastic news for our city and will help go towards completing the design of our new Thorpe Road cycle route scheme.
“By choosing to walk, wheel or cycle, residents are not only supporting their mental and physical wellbeing but are also contributing to improving air quality in our communities, which in turn, will reduce congestion on our roads.”
