• Funding unlocked for new active travel infrastructure across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral
• Money also to be committed to projects to encourage active travel – including all-ages cycle safety training
• Active travel investment a key element of Mayor Rotheram’s plan for an integrated London-style transport system for the region

More than £7.4m has been secured for new bike lanes, footpaths and other active travel infrastructure in the region, subject to acceptance at next week’s Combined Authority meeting.

The new funding has been unlocked from the government’s Active Travel Fund and takes the total amount committed to building active travel infrastructure in the region to over £110m.

The money will be used to create improved connections between existing and planned routes across all six boroughs of the Liverpool City Region – Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

The investment is aimed at making it safer and easier for people to walk, cycle or wheel, offering a real alternative to the car, especially for shorter journeys.

Funding is also to be made available for projects to encourage more people to travel actively. These include trialling new secure bike parking facilities and funding social prescribing schemes – where medical professionals support patients to take up walking and cycling for health and wellbeing.

The money could also be used to increase the number cycle safety training places for residents of all ages, to help people use bikes safely and with confidence.

The improvements funded by this new cash boost are part of wider plans to create a 600km network of walking and cycling routes across the region – with 148km already delivered to date.

Major schemes already delivered as part of the plans include the cycle lane on Runcorn’s Silver Jubilee Bridge in Halton, the major redevelopment of Catherine Street and Princes Avenue in Liverpool and the region’s first CYCLOPS junction at Lea Green in St Helens.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Transport Committee at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:

“Mayor Rotheram and the Combined Authority are setting out to make the Liverpool City Region the best place in the country for walking and cycling – and investing in safe, accessible active travel infrastructure is key to making that a reality.

“Today’s announcement brings our total investment in the region’s active travel network to over £110m. That’s a huge commitment to transforming how people get around.

“By making it easier for people to walk, cycle or wheel – especially for shorter trips – we’re connecting communities, supporting economic growth, cutting carbon emissions, and boosting quality of life for everyone in our region.

“When taken together with investment in new trains, zero emission buses and the first brand new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years, this is another stride forward in building a world-class transport network that’s healthier, greener, and better connected for all.”

Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region Cycling and Walking Commissioner, said:

“It’s great to see yet more funding being committed to walking, cycling and wheeling in our region.

“The job we have now is to work with local authorities, not only to build new bike lanes and footpaths, but also to make sure we’re connecting up some of the fantastic infrastructure we already have.

“Linking communities, reducing carbon emissions, helping people to be healthier – investment in active travel has the potential to be truly transformational for our city region.”

Development of new active travel infrastructure is a key element of Mayor Rotheram’s plan for an integrated London-style transport system that is quick, simple, affordable, and accessible to all.

Other major investments include the purchase of more than 100 zero-emission double-decker electric buses, a £32m transport interchange for St Helens town centre, £26m for the first new Mersey Ferry in over 60 years and £100m for the new Liverpool Baltic rail station.