New funding announced to boost active travel across West Yorkshire

Credit: West Yorkshire Combined Authority

The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, has announced that 13 organisations across the region are to receive a total of more than £640,000 to support more people in their communities to walk and cycle, due to funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Each organisation will receive up to £50,000 to become a community walking and cycling hub. These hubs will be ‘one-stop-shops’ for people to access everything that they need to walk and cycle, including advice and support on routes, equipment, training and group activities.

Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Making it easier to walk and cycle is part of the solution to so many challenges we face – from saving people money, tackling congestion and the climate challenge, to improving our health and wellbeing. I’m delighted to support these important organisations to take their services to the next level, so that more people can reap the benefits of walking and cycling.”

Experience Community is a not-for-profit organisation that helps people with disabilities access cycling. It will receive grant funding to start a new mobile hub, as well as develop its base in Leeds. The company’s work will mean that people across West Yorkshire will have better access to specialist equipment and expert advice.

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Craig Grimes, Managing Director of Experience Community CIC, said: “Accessing public transport and active travel options for disabled people can be difficult, which means that many people opt to use their own private vehicles instead. This funding will enable us to provide short-term home loans of equipment so that people can decide which equipment is most useful for them in their day to day lives.”

Furthermore, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has awarded more than £500,000 to organisations across the region since 2017, in order to deliver grassroots initiatives aimed at helping people overcome barriers to walking and cycling.

Organisations will be invited to bid for further community grant funding in early 2023.