The British government is set to unveil, as reported in The Guardian, a new Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy that will direct approximately £4.5 billion (about $8 billion CAD) toward active transportation over the next five years. The plan includes the construction of 5,000 new walking, cycling, and wheeling routes and 10,000 safer crossings by 2030, creating connections between homes, schools, town centres, transit hubs, and everyday destinations.
The scale of the investment signals a growing recognition that active transportation isn’t simply about recreation or sport. Instead, it’s increasingly being viewed as a core part of modern transportation networks, one that can improve public health, reduce congestion, lower emissions, and give people more transportation choices.
A Focus on Everyday Trips
One of the most notable aspects of the strategy is its emphasis on practical, everyday transportation rather than leisure cycling.
The UK government has set a goal that by 2035, at least 55 per cent of shorter trips will include some form of active transportation. Importantly, the strategy recognizes that active transportation often works best when combined with transit. A journey that includes walking or cycling to a train station, for example, would count toward the target.
That reflects a growing understanding among transportation planners that cycling and walking are not competing with public transit—they are complementary modes that help solve the first- and last-kilometre challenge.
The strategy also places a strong emphasis on school travel. By 2035, the government hopes that 60 per cent of children aged five to 16 will walk, cycle, or wheel to school, up from approximately 45 per cent today.
Safe routes around schools have become a major focus of active transportation planning worldwide. When children can travel independently and safely, communities often see reduced traffic congestion, improved road safety, and healthier daily habits that can last a lifetime.
Moving Beyond the “War on Cars”
Perhaps the most interesting element of the announcement is the language being used to frame the conversation.
For years, transportation debates in many countries have been framed as a battle between drivers and cyclists. The UK’s Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, pushed back against that narrative, arguing that dividing people into categories misses the reality that most people use multiple forms of transportation depending on the trip.
It’s a perspective that will sound familiar to many Momentum readers.
Many cyclists are also drivers. Most transit users occasionally drive. Most people walk every day. The question isn’t whether someone identifies as a cyclist or a motorist—it’s whether communities provide safe, practical transportation options that allow people to choose the mode that makes the most sense for a particular journey.
This shift in messaging could prove just as important as the infrastructure investments themselves.
London Eye
Health Benefits Built Into Daily Life
The strategy also highlights a growing trend among policymakers: viewing active transportation as a public health tool.
Rather than encouraging people to carve out extra time for exercise, active transportation integrates physical activity into daily routines. A short ride to the grocery store, a walk to a transit stop, or a bike commute to work can provide meaningful health benefits without requiring a dedicated workout.
Research consistently shows that people are far more likely to remain physically active when movement is incorporated into everyday life rather than treated as a separate activity.
For transportation planners, that makes investments in walking and cycling infrastructure about far more than mobility—they become investments in population health.
Lessons for Canadian Cities
The UK’s new strategy arrives at a time when many Canadian cities are wrestling with similar questions about transportation, housing growth, congestion, and climate goals.
While North America has made significant progress in expanding cycling networks in cities such as Montreal, Seattle and Portland, large gaps remain in many communities. Funding is often fragmented, projects can take years to complete, and long-term national targets are less clearly defined.
What stands out about the UK’s approach is not simply the amount of money being invested but the clarity of the goals. The government has established measurable targets for school travel, short trips, route construction, and crossing improvements.
Whether those goals are ultimately achieved remains to be seen. But by setting clear objectives and backing them with significant funding, the UK is making a strong statement about the role active transportation can play in creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities.
For cities hoping to encourage more people to leave the car at home for shorter trips, the formula is increasingly clear: build safe infrastructure, connect it to the places people actually need to go, and make active transportation an easy choice rather than a brave one.