Exemplary approach to Active Travel & Public Space
A submission in this category should demonstrate:
Improvements to public space and the street environment in terms of appearance (high quality materials, design sensitive to local culture and heritage, green infrastructure and planting etc).
Evidence the scheme has led to either: safety improvements, uptake of active travel, improvements to business and cultural offerings, reduced congestion, reduced air pollution etc.
Previous Winners:
2023: Glasgow City Council – Ultra Smart Cycle System
2019: Aberdeenshire Council – Integrated Travel Town Masterplan Project Approach
2018: Transport for Greater Manchester & Manchester City Council, Wilmslow Road and Oxford Road Cycleway
2017: Salford City Council, Salford’s Traffic-free Routes
2016: Leicester City Council – Pedestrian and cycling links in the city council
Aberdeenshire Council
Aberdeenshire Council continues to advance its 2018 Integrated Travel Town (ITT) masterplan with the delivery of five additional ITT towns scheduled for 2024. The development of ‘Strategic Active Travel Routes’ has seen the design and early implementation of key routes connecting major towns, including Ellon, Inverurie, and Portlethen, to Aberdeen. In collaboration with RTP partners NESTRANS, the Council is mapping key corridor routes for small-scale interventions that will enhance rural route access.
The ITT towns have recorded an increase in walking to school. Among nine specific schools that demonstrated modal shift, there was an average increase of 11% in walking. Cycling to school also rose across all ITT towns, with 13 schools showing an overall 12% increase in cycling. Additionally, car use for school travel decreased in the ITT towns of Ellon, Inverurie, Portlethen, and Fraserburgh. Across six schools, the average reduction in car use was nearly 20%.
Aberdeenshire has also capitalised on the growing popularity of electric bikes, launching Scotland's first potentially unmanned rural E-Bike hire scheme, with further expansion planned for summer 2025. The scheme includes a dedicated website and online booking system, allowing community groups to establish their own E-Bike hire schemes. To date, 40 bikes are available for hire, with an additional 24 set to become available in 2024. The initiative’s primary objective is to support community-owned and operated E-Bike hire options, backed by the Council.
Gloucestershire County Council: Gloucestershire Cycle spine
The 26-mile cycle spine has been recognized by Sustrans as an exemplary active travel scheme, noted as the longest of its kind in the UK. The route effectively connects key destinations, including a university, colleges, two hospitals, major transport hubs, and employment sites serving over half the county's population. It is fully compliant with LTN 1/20 standards, ensuring high-quality infrastructure.
Located in a semi-rural area, the first 4.5 miles of the route has already led to an 80% increase in pre-COVID cycling levels, with expectations for further growth as connectivity to the spine expands. The route's design includes a speed limit reduction from 50 to 30 mph, implemented in consultation with local police, enhancing safety along the corridor. Since the completion of the initial phases, there have been no reported cycle or pedestrian casualties on the new infrastructure.
The scheme has also fostered a broader culture of active travel (AT) in the area. Schools and businesses have invested in cycling infrastructure, such as cycle parking, and developed travel plans. The local council has strengthened its internal AT expertise, contrasting with a trend of diminishing resources. Moreover, the Local Enterprise Partnership, a funding partner for the initial phase, highlighted the significant role of this scheme in unlocking 45 hectares of employment land in West Cheltenham for a new cyber park, set to create 7,500 jobs. This project demonstrates the impact of AT on public health, education, and environmental outcomes.
Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership: HI-BIKE
HITRANS' HI-BIKE cycle hire scheme has demonstrated notable growth since its launch in 2021. Initially starting with 3 docking stations, 4 virtual docks, and 30 bikes in Inverness, the scheme expanded to 6 docks and 50 bikes by 2022. In spring 2023, the scheme faced potential closure following the bankruptcy of its operator, Canadian bikeshare company Bewegen. However, HITRANS successfully intervened, taking over operations to prevent its discontinuation.
HITRANS staff rapidly adapted to the challenges of running an e-bike share system, covering areas such as IT, bike redistribution, maintenance, customer service, and bikeshare technology. The scheme was closed for a brief period while sim card accounts were updated, during which an external mechanic was contracted for bike maintenance. This transition enabled HITRANS to retain some former employees from the previous operator.
Looking forward, HITRANS plans to expand the scheme within Inverness and introduce docks in Elgin. As of January 2024, HI-BIKE is the only publicly owned and operated e-bike share scheme in the UK. It boasts nearly 1,000 regular users, with 2,700 recurring memberships purchased and 12,000 single-use users. Since its inception, the scheme has attracted almost 13,000 individual users, who have collectively travelled 220,000 km, saving over 40,000 kilograms of CO2 compared to car travel.
Membership purchases have continued to grow steadily, with annual passes available for as little as £1.55 per week. HITRANS also offers a free equal opportunities pass to those in need, ensuring inclusive access to active travel.
Leeds City Council: Leeds City Square
The City Square scheme in Leeds has focused on transforming the public space around The Queens Hotel, Channel 4, historic listed buildings, and Leeds Train Station, a key area for pedestrians, cyclists, and buses. Previously, this zone experienced congestion due to heavy traffic, leading to delays and poor air quality. Data indicated that approximately 30% of car journeys passing through City Square were not city-centre-bound but were travelling north of the city, highlighting the need for more suitable routes.
The project has reallocated road space to prioritize bus infrastructure, pedestrian areas, cycling facilities, and public space, enhancing the city centre's livability. The introduction of four new bus gates now provides exclusive priority to 44 bus services daily, accommodating over 2,000 buses. In addition, 20 secure Sheffield cycle stands and two Leeds City Bike docking stations have been installed.
City Square has since become a hub for events such as the Christmas Markets and Leeds Light Night, which attracts over 100,000 visitors across two nights. The scheme has successfully redirected traffic away from the square, maintaining access to key destinations via alternative routes. Surrounding streets have also experienced reduced traffic, offering further opportunities for active travel infrastructure.
Local businesses have shown interest in expanding outdoor offerings due to increased footfall, reflecting the area's growing appeal as a social and cultural hub rather than a mere thoroughfare. While air quality improvements are not explicitly mentioned, they are likely an additional benefit of the project.
Salford City Council: Trafford Road Improvements
The Trafford Road Improvement Scheme was introduced to address severe congestion along a one-mile stretch of road, which had been hindering access to employment and commercial opportunities at Salford Quays and impacting growth at the Quays and MediaCityUK. The project aimed to reduce traffic congestion, improve journey times, and create safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, the scheme sought to encourage a shift from vehicular traffic, particularly for local residents and employees making short journeys, and to increase bus usage.
To reduce severance for residents, the scheme introduced new pedestrian and cyclist crossing points, enhanced the public realm to encourage footfall, and improved safety with measures such as low-level planting, trees, rain gardens with SUDs drainage, wayfinding signage, and enhanced lighting. The entire road was resurfaced, with clearer markings, new signage, and a designated red route clearway to maintain traffic flow.
The project included segregated cycle routes and CYCLOPS (Cycle-Optimised Protected Signal) junctions, which offer fully signalised circuits with separate phases for vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists. Upgraded bus stops further supported a comprehensive improvement package for all users. Early data suggests a 24% increase in cyclists, with additional monitoring expected to show increased pedestrian and bus usage.
Congestion was also reduced by adding capacity at junctions connecting to Trafford Road. Overall, the scheme has improved access and connectivity, reducing social and economic exclusion for local residents while benefiting all road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, buses, and cars.
Transport for Greater Manchester - Chorlton Cycleway
The Greater Manchester cycling initiative builds on the success of the Dutch-style CYCLOPS (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) junctions, first introduced in 2020, the first of their kind in the UK. These junctions fully segregate cyclists from general traffic, enhancing safety at busy intersections. The 6km route features fully protected cycle lanes in both directions, with ten protected junctions, six of which are CYCLOPS. Improvements have also been made at over 50 side-road junctions, prioritising walking, wheeling, and cycling over motor vehicles.
Cyclist protection extends to all bus stops along the route, including 25 bus stop bypasses. Cycle lanes are generally 2m wide, with some sections reduced to a minimum of 1.5m where necessary. These measures have contributed to a 40% increase in the number of cyclists using the route.
The project has followed sustainable travel hierarchy principles, with road space for cycle facilities taken mainly from motor vehicle lanes or central hatching, preserving or enhancing footway width. Drone analysis of the first CYCLOPS junction showed the design effectively reduces road danger for pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, the CYCLOPS layout provides pedestrian crossings closer to desire lines than standard junctions.
The cycleway offers the communities of Chorlton, Whalley Range, Old Trafford, and Hulme a high-quality connection to Manchester city centre, linking to National Cycle Network 55 and connecting to Salford Quays and MediaCity. Early community support for this scheme highlights the benefits of ambitious, high-quality cycling initiatives.
Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council & AECOM: Liveable Neighbourhoods Programme (moved from Collaboration/ Alliance)
In response to concerns raised by local residents regarding air quality, access to safe active travel routes, and the dominance of vehicle traffic, Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council initiated a Liveable Neighbourhoods (LN) programme. This initiative aimed to enhance the standard of living through significant traffic and environmental improvements. Over the past three years, B&NES Council, in partnership with AECOM, co-designed fifteen areas, implemented three Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) trials that were made permanent, and introduced seven Restricted Parking Zones (RPZs). A Full Business Case was also developed to secure further funding, with five additional ETRO trials scheduled for 2024.
The co-design process saw strong community engagement, with over 1,000 residents expressing interest and approximately 500 participating in workshops. Their input, alongside national and local standards, helped shape the final LN designs. The Independent Equalities Advisory Group (IEAG) played a key role in ensuring inclusivity, providing recommendations to make the designs accessible for all.
Following implementation, feedback from the ETRO trials was highly positive. On Queen Charlton Lane, 91% of residents noted that restricting through-traffic improved the area, with traffic volume reduced by 85%, amounting to 470-500 fewer daily vehicle movements. Active travel saw a significant boost, with walking increasing by 300% and cycling by 60-80%. Additionally, air quality improvements were observed, with a 10% reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels on Southlands. These results highlight the effectiveness of the LN programme in enhancing both travel and environmental outcomes.
