Active travel means undertaking a journey by walking, wheeling, cycling or horse riding.
We are working towards a future where active travel is easy, safe and enjoyable, helping people lead healthier lives and creating more sustainable communities.
The UK Government, through the Department for Transport and Active Travel England, has developed multi-billion pound strategies to increase the proportion of all urban journeys, requiring local authorities to lead this change.
The national vision for active travel
In 2026, the government published its third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS3) setting a vision that:
- active travel should be the first natural choice for most local or short journeys
- walking, wheeling and cycling should be a safe, easy and accessible option for everyone
- created the national targets that by 2035, 55% of all short stages in towns and cities will be walked or cycled
Read more at Active Travel - Active England: the third cycling and walking investment strategy (CWIS3).
This is soon to be complemented by an update to the guidelines for low-trafficked residential streets called Manual for Streets 3. The update will shift the focus on designing and updating roads to cater for the most vulnerable user first. This means walkers, wheelers, cyclists and horse riders will be considered above the car, van and HGV.
What we are doing
We want to make active travel the natural choice for short trips across West Northamptonshire by improving routes, working with communities and promoting healthier travel habits.
Following consultations in 2025, we’ve adopted our Local Transport Plan (LTP) and 4 Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs):
- Local Transport Plan
- Brackley LCWIP
- Daventry LCWIP
- Northampton LCWIP
- Towcester LCWIP
In 2026 we adopted the Active Travel Strategy.
Active travel schemes
There are a number of stages to approve and then build active travel schemes, including:
Concept and feasibility
These are schemes identified by LCWIPs or through an active travel improvement suggestion which we are planning to consult upon with timelines.
Current work is taking place on Brackley Active Travel Schemes.
Preliminary and detailed design and delivery
These are schemes that have been approved and have funding delivered by the major highway projects.
Led walks, rides and events
We work with partners to organise rides, walks and events designed to make active travel fun and increase participation.
Find out more about:
- Active Lives - Walking West Northamptonshire
- Activities and leisure - Local Offer
- Being active
- Cycling West Northamptonshire
- E-scooters in West Northamptonshire
Partners working on active travel include:
Why choose active travel?
Building activity into everyday life helps improve fitness, strengthen muscles and boost mental wellbeing. It can reduce the risk of long-term health conditions and increase energy levels for people of all ages.
Walking and cycling produce zero emissions. Choosing active travel helps improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions and create more pleasant, greener streets and neighbourhoods.
Active travel is a low-cost way to get around. Replacing short car journeys can help reduce fuel, parking, maintenance costs, and in certain circumstances the need for personal car itself. The average yearly cost of owning a car is over £3,500 while cycling or walking is under £350.
Streets designed for people are more attractive places to live, work and visit. Active travel can increase footfall in town centres, support local businesses and create more vibrant communities.
Safe and accessible walking and cycling routes give people more choice in how they travel – helping improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and leisure activities, especially for those without a car.
Many journeys in West Northamptonshire are short enough to walk or cycle. For example, almost half of commuting journeys are between 2km to 10km – a distance that can often be cycled in under 30 minutes.
Switching even one or two journeys a week from car to active travel can help:
- reduce traffic congestion
- improve journey times for everyone
- make streets safer and more enjoyable
Whether it’s a short walk to the shops or cycling to work, every journey counts. Start small, try something new, and discover the benefits of active travel for yourself.