What is Active Travel?
Active Travel is local travel which involves exercise: walking, cycling and wheeling, especially in commuting to work, shops or leisure.
Why is Active Travel important?
According to Chris Boardman England’s Active Travel Commissioner there are four key benefits to Active Travel: cost, convenience, carbon-reduction and health.
What is the Government strategy?
This can be found in Gear Change (July 2020), its vision for cycling and walking. It is supported by the creation of Active Travel England and by a competitive tendering for Active Travel tranche monies. The amount available for this has recently been cut.
What are the barriers to Active Travel?
Safety concerns, lack of confidence e.g. in bike maintenance, lack of knowledge, lack of money and local geography are all barriers. In Otley, the medieval street pattern and road width are barriers to creating wider pavements, safer crossings and separated cycleways.
What is happening in Otley?
Otley Town Council recognises that, whilst walking and cycling for leisure is well-established in the town, Active Travel is less so. It has made Active Travel a priority. It is working with partners to remove barriers to walking, wheeling, and cycling and promote ‘utility’ walking and cycling. Other organisation, such as Otley 2030 and Otley Town Partnership also have Travel or Transport groups looking to suggest ideas and implement other initiatives.
What can you do?
Join a local group, let the Council know your views and ideas at [email protected], join in our events and initiatives.
Get involved with walking groups within Otley, to find out information visit the websites below
Otley Walking Festival [email protected]
Walkers Are Welcome Otley – wawotley.org.uk
Ilkley U3A – ilkleyu3a.org
Contact – Otley Walkers – [email protected]