Councils Accused of Scaling Back Cycling Projects Despite £600m Active Travel Funding

Cycling infrastructure is still being reduced or removed by councils across England, despite more than £600 million being allocated nationally for active travel schemes, according to new research from retailer Paul’s Cycles.

Local authorities have received streamlined active travel funding and are now determining how it will be used locally. However, the retailer claims that cycling projects have historically been among the first elements to be cut back or abandoned as schemes progress from planning to delivery.

Tom Thornley, Managing Director of Paul’s Cycles, said cycling provision is frequently treated as an afterthought.

“Too often, cycling is included in plans to tick a box and then quietly removed with minimal scrutiny,” he said. “While government policy promotes active travel, councils are still scaling back the very infrastructure needed to make it viable.

“Removing cycling schemes may appear to save money in the short term, but it simply shifts costs elsewhere in the long run. Even people who don’t cycle benefit from well-designed cycling infrastructure.”

The research highlights several schemes that have been reduced or dropped. In Norwich, planned cycling improvements along Dereham Road were scrapped without public consultation due to cost pressures. In the West Midlands, a cycling corridor funded in 2019 has faced delays after being downgraded in priority, prompting a petition with more than 3,000 signatures.

Elsewhere, Harrogate’s Station Gateway scheme saw the removal of a protected cycle lane, while campaigners in Bristol criticised the decision to prioritise bus lanes over planned cycle safety measures, describing it as a significant policy misstep.

Paul’s Cycles assessed funding allocations per 1,000 residents to identify which areas are best placed to enhance cycling provision. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole topped the rankings with £27,182 per 1,000 residents, followed by Gloucestershire (£26,839) and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (£26,677). Both BCP and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough recorded notable increases compared with earlier funding rounds.

However, the analysis also found that the five authorities receiving the highest levels of funding between 2020 and 2025 have since seen substantial reductions. Liverpool City Region experienced a fall of £52,944 per 1,000 residents. Central Bedfordshire, Luton and West Berkshire now rank among the lowest-funded areas.

Thornley argues that cycling continues to be viewed as a niche activity rather than a mainstream transport option.

“There is a misconception that cycling only serves a minority,” he said. “In reality, many more people would choose to cycle if they felt safer on the roads.”

The company cites research suggesting that every £1 invested in walking and cycling infrastructure delivers almost £6 in wider economic and social benefits. Surveys also indicate that 72% of women and 50% of men identify poor road conditions or a lack of dedicated cycle lanes as barriers to cycling.

“If councils genuinely want to meet sustainability goals, improve public health and offer affordable transport choices, cycling infrastructure cannot be the first casualty when budgets come under pressure,” Thornley added.