Getting the Nation Walking, Wheeling and Cycling

Enabling more people to walk, wheel, and cycle for short everyday journeys is one of the most cost-effective investments a government can make. Research shows that getting 5.3 million more people regularly active could save millions of sick days, free up 1.7 million GP appointments, save households around £1,700 a year, and deliver a £115 billion boost to our economy.

Data also shows that 59% of all car and van journeys are under five miles - trips that could be walked, wheeled, or cycled by many if the right infrastructure were in place. Yet, despite returning £4.30 in public benefits for every £1 invested, active travel funding remains volatile, fragmented, and repeatedly targeted by central government cuts.

Liberal Democrats believe active travel is not just transport policy - it is preventive healthcare, environmental action, and economic common sense. Today, our members passed new policy to transform local travel, connect communities, and make walking, wheeling, and cycling safe and attractive choices for everyone.

We are calling on the Government to:

• Ring-fence 5% of the Department for Transport's annual budget for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, with a trajectory to 10% as finances allow - matching the ask from 18 public health, environmental and active travel organisations. 
   
• Launch a national 'Rails to Trails' programme converting disused railway corridors, towpaths and redundant infrastructure into interconnected walking, wheeling and cycling routes.
   
• Reform the National Planning Policy Framework to require continuous, high-quality active travel infrastructure in all new developments from the outset, connected to existing networks, transport hubs and town centres.

By shifting funding away from short-sighted cuts and into safe, green local transport, we can clean up our air, relieve pressure on the NHS, and make our towns and cities healthier, happier places to live.