Making it easier for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle

Last year, the charity that’s making it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle changed its name so it does what it says on the tin: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. In this blog, Natalie Martin, their Growth and Partnerships Manager shares their commitment to people-powered movement, working directly with communities to make change happen.

I’ve been with the charity for nearly two decades. My role is to network across the South West between Local and Combined Authorities, Active Travel England, consultants and other key stakeholders.

I can offer support for politicians, and find opportunities for increasing ambition for walking, wheeling and cycling, bringing more funding into the area.

I have to admit, the area feels huge, but our goals are very easy to get behind:

• Building a national walking, wheeling and cycling network that brings everyone closer to the places and people they love
• Connected, thriving neighbourhoods where everyone is free to live and move with ease
• Empowering millions to walk, wheel and cycle for their health, their wellbeing, and their world.

At a time when 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK are from domestic transport, and tens of thousands of people are dying from air pollution, these changes can’t come soon enough.

Our work in communities

We are proud to be supporting members of Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership and are involved in the Community Climate & Nature Action Project. This fits with our aim to work directly with communities to make change happen. Communities are powerful and we want to support this collective action by offering our advice and knowledge about sustainable transport.

Our work demonstrates time and again that change rooted in communities are the best received, the most successful and they have long-lasting effects.

We then evidence the impact to influence policies to push those changes further. Whether we are helping to make a new town centre more accessible, creating a new section of the National Cycle Network, building people’s confidence to choose how they want to travel, or teaching children about air quality, it all starts with listening to what people have to say.

One project with Sefton Council – By Ours, is an example of how we can turn community voices into designs for safer, happier neighbourhoods. Read about how we worked with the community to create safer school journeys in Bootle.

Capturing the data driving the decisions

One of the things we do that people aren’t always aware of is provide data vital to those making the policies that affect us all.

The start of March came with the launch of the Walking and Cycling Index in Bristol – it’s also in 21 other cities and is one of the largest assessments of active travel in the UK and Ireland.

The Index captures public attitudes to walking, wheeling and cycling and looks at how easy it is to get around in these areas for everyday journeys.

The research can help to shape policies, support investment decisions and give cities the evidence they need to set more ambitious plans for active travel.

Did you know, for example, that 52% of Bristol residents would like to cycle more, whilst only 37% of women think it’s safe to cycle in Bristol?

We’ve also recently launched the Inclusive Engagement research report as part of the Climate & Disability programme, which explores how Disabled people can more easily contribute to local active travel and transport planning through the use of access panels.

As part of the research, local authorities across England were surveyed and consulted to understand how access panels currently operate and how they enable Disabled people to feed into decision-making processes.

Based on these findings, the report sets out a series of key recommendations for both local and national government to strengthen their role and support more meaningful involvement of Disabled people in transport and active travel planning.

Come along to our webinar on 9 April to learn more about the Inclusive Engagement report.

What do we mean by wheeling?

I am often asked about the ‘wheel’ bit of our name. Some wheelchair and mobility scooter users identify with the term wheeling, while others prefer walking. Using both terms together allows people to identify as they prefer and ensures a wide range of people feel included. We want to make it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle, safely, healthily and joyfully.

Last year, we removed 560 barriers on the National Cycle Network, and we continue to open up routes to people using mobility aids, pushchairs and larger cycles, as well as design routes and urban environments that make everyone feel welcome. Our aim is to remove or redesign every single barrier on the Network by 2030.

Get in touch!

If your community is part of the Community Climate & Nature Action Project and would like support to figure out what to include in your action plan. Or, if you’d like to find out more about the sorts of things we can offer, feel free to get in touch with me at natalie.martin@walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk

Because people powered movement changes everything. Our health. Our wellbeing. Our world.

 

Find out more about the Community Climate & Nature Action Project