Active travel

Greater Manchester's goal is to make active travel the natural choice for as many short trips as possible.

The 2040 target is for walking trips to increase by a third and cycling trips to double and then double again.

We must do this by putting people first, creating world class streets for walking, building one of the world's best cycling networks, and creating a genuine culture of on-foot and by-cycle travel.

If we can support more people to walk and cycle it will benefit our health and wellbeing, improve air quality and reduce congestion. Each year in Greater Manchester we make millions of journeys by car that could either be walked or cycled instead;

• 200 million car journeys shorter than one kilometre, the equivalent of a 15-minute walk or a four-minute bike ride.
• 800 million car journeys are under 5 kilometres, which is a comfortable 20-minute bike ride.

This reliance on private cars for transport contributes to inactivity levels; climate change; congestion; poor air quality; and significant costs such as road building and maintenance. Congestion currently costs Greater Manchester £1.3 billion each year, while air pollution contributes to around 1,200 premature deaths each year.

We know that Greater Manchester residents want an alternative to driving, with more than two thirds of people saying they would walk and cycle more if they felt safer. The research also shows that current and perceived levels of road danger cause reduced demand for active travel.

• 47% of the Greater Manchester population would cycle more if the conditions were better; this includes feeling safer on the road, more cycle routes and easier access to bikes.
• 21% of people said they would walk more if conditions were better, including more crossings and better-maintained surfaces.

With this appetite for increased active within the right parameters, we have an incredible opportunity to enable people to move more each day across our city-region.

​Right to the Streets Project - Trafford ​

Using the Home Office Safer Streets Fund, the Right to the Streets project in Trafford explores ways to make streets and public spaces safer and more welcoming for women and girls, enabling them to feel a sense of belonging in their community and able to live active lives. 

Read more on the Right to the Streets project here and how you can get involved. 

Walking and Cycling Co-ordination & Advisory Group (WACCA)

The WACCA group was formed in 2021 to work together to increase access and participation in walking, cycling and wheeling in Greater Manchester for all (all people, places and purposes) in line with partners shared strategic priorities.

The group collectively champions, advocates and shares information to help lead, influence and grow an effective and inclusive movement for walking, cycling, wheeling in Greater Manchester.

Membership currently includes: GM Moving, TfGM, British Cycling, Living Streets, WalkRideGM, Wheels for All, Sustrans, The Ramblers.

Find out more about WACCA

The Big Active Conversation

The Big Active Conversation is a series of stakeholder gatherings, hosted by TfGM and GM Moving partners.

The gatherings bring people and partners across Greater Manchester together to share and explore progress, stories, challenges and expertise as we work together to make Greater Manchester a better place for everyone to walk, cycle, wheel and get around actively.

To join the mailing list and get involved, please email [email protected] putting 'BAC Mailing List' in the subject line and including your name, email address, contact number and the organisation you represent, if any.

BeeActive (TfGM)

Whether it's a trip to the shops or the school run, there’s plenty of help from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to get you started.

Find extra help on their website whether you're a business, school or community group to support more people to get walking, wheeling and cycling.