Active Travel Strategy (2024-2040) consultation

Consultation closes: Wednesday 31 December 2025
Consultation opened: Wednesday 19 November 2025

Aim

The key aim of the strategy is that by 2030 more than half of all local trips in the main towns of Central Bedfordshire will be made by walking, wheeling (wheelchairs, mobility scooters, etc) or cycling rather than by car.

This aligns with the ambition set out in Issue 2 of the government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (GOV.UK).

Objectives

To help achieve this aim, we've set 8 objectives: 

• secure funding from national and regional bodies such as Active Travel England, the Department for Transport (DfT), or developer contributions to build and upgrade walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure (footways, cycle tracks, shared paths)
• use available funding to implement the Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) and the “Green Wheel” master plans, prioritising routes linking schools, railway stations and town centres
• gradually improve the “walkability” of streets, reduce car dominance in residential areas and enable people to walk or cycle more often for everyday trips
• remove barriers on paths and cycle tracks and make frequently visited destinations more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists
• cut by half the number of serious or fatal collisions on the local highway network involving children and young people walking or cycling
• reduce by one-third the number of residents of all ages who say they avoid walking or cycling locally because of concerns about personal safety
• improve air quality especially on streets and roads where schools are located by reducing car-based trips and encouraging active travel
• ensure that future developments promote good quality active travel in line with the standards of Active Travel England