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Gloucestershire County Council celebrates top national endorsement for active travel ambitions

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Gloucestershire County Council is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious Level 3 rating by Active Travel England (ATE) joining six authorities in the highest banding - recognising the county as one of England’s highest performing authorities for active travel, and the only predominantly rural council to achieve this milestone.

Alongside the rating review ATE have announced their four-year funding allocation for Gloucestershire, resulting in just under £18million of additional funding. The funding will be ring-fenced to deliver an agreed programme of strategic schemes that meets ATE's stringent requirements.

This accolade marks a significant step forward in Gloucestershire’s journey to transform how people move around the county. At the heart of this transformation is the ambitious 26-mile ‘Gloucestershire Cycle Spine’, a flagship project connecting key towns, villages, and employment hubs. The Cycle Spine aims to provide safe, accessible, and attractive walking and cycling routes for half of Gloucestershire’s population, using a blend of segregated cycle lanes, on-road facilities, and shared-use paths.

Since 2020, Gloucestershire County Council has delivered over nine miles of high-quality active travel infrastructure extending between Gloucester, Cheltenham and Bishops Cleeve with some sections already seeing a doubling of cycle volumes. These achievements are the result of strategic planning, innovative design, and strong partnerships with the county’s six district councils. The programme is supported by a diverse funding mix, including the Active Travel Fund, Levelling Up Fund, National Highways Designated Funds, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, Community Infrastructure Levy, and local contributions.  

The DfT have provided agreement to extend the area in which electric scooters can be used, meaning that there are now high-quality facilities you can ride from Cheltenham to Gloucester by electric scooter, bike, wheel or walk safely using the cycle spine.

Active Travel England’s endorsement reflects Gloucestershire’s commitment to long-term modal shift, integration of active travel into wider transport and planning strategies, and the capacity to deliver complex infrastructure at scale. The county council’s collaborative approach and dedication to healthier, greener, and more connected communities have set a new benchmark for rural active travel delivery in England.

Cllr Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and strategic highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We’re proud and delighted to be recognised as one of England’s top-performing Active Travel Authorities, especially as a rural council. Our close collaboration with Active Travel England has significantly boosted our ability to deliver meaningful behaviour change campaigns and the ambitious 26-mile Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, which we plan to connect with more local routes in the future. This achievement reflects our commitment to support sustainable growth, improve transport connections and promote healthier lifestyles across the county. The extra funding is also most welcome to help us continue with our work.”

Comment from Active Travel England: “The increase in rating is testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of local authority officers to improve local capability and performance.”