North East Active Travel Strategy Public Consultation

Boosting walking, wheeling and cycling

The North East Active Travel Strategy aims to ensure that over half of all short journeys in the region will be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2035 – good news for the environment, public health and the local economy.

The proposed strategy aims for active travel to become the natural first choice for short everyday trips and combine it with public transport for longer journeys. To achieve this, there would to be a 45% increase in active travel across the region.

Schemes included in the consultation draft of the strategy include:

• The creation of a brand-new regional cycle network – with consistent signage and strong recognisable branding to make it easy to identify and use.
• The introduction of a new regional cycle hire scheme (including e-bike hire) which would integrate with the local transport network.
• The pedestrianisation and ‘walkability’ of local towns and cities, encouraging more active travel and increased footfall to amenities and businesses.
• Social prescribing – working with NHS providers to prescribe more active travel to boost public health.

If over half of short journeys in the region are made by active travel by 2035, this would bring forward huge benefits including:

• Growing our regional economy by approximately £350m a year
• Reducing carbon emissions – potentially saving around 80,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year
• Prevent around 1,000 premature deaths by 2035 – primarily due to increased physical activity levels
• Improve connectedness of communities and reduce social isolation
• Improve air quality and lower noise levels as congestion eases
• Save petrol and diesel car drivers on average around £70 per year

Listen to the Active Travel Strategy

To listen to the audio version. of the Active Travel Strategy simply click on the chapter links below.

Why are we consulting?

Transport North East, on behalf of the North East Joint Transport Committee, want to ensure that people who live or work in the region have the opportunity to influence our proposals. A public consultation was held between 4 January 2023 until 5 March.

The public consultation is your opportunity to be part of its development and have your say on its impact and content. In addition, we want to hear any suggestions you might have which will help to shape the final document.

You can read the Transport North East Consultation Principles here.

Public consultation

A consultation feedback report will be published following publication of the strategy.

Should you have a question or require documents in an alternative format, please call 0191 433 2973 or email activetravel@transportnortheast.gov.uk

Thank you for your views

Want to know more?

If you have any questions or comments on the strategy which is in development, please call us on 0191 433 2973 or email activetravel@transportnortheast.gov.uk

You can also write to us at:
Transport North East
C/o Gateshead Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH