Council gets £208k to boost cycling and walking in Bedford - including new cycles lanes

Bedford Borough Council has received £208,906 from the Department of Transport (DoT) to boost cycling infrastructure - including new cycles lanes.

The money has been awarded as part of the DoT's cycling and walking plan for England which started in 2020.

The Government also announced that along with this funding they will be updating the Highway Code and will publish this in the autumn

This comes on top of £4,000,000 from the Town Deal Funding, £586,000 from the Town Deal Accelerator Fund, £300,000 from the Transporting Bedford programme - making the total figure just over £5million.

Great Barford ward councillor Phillippa Moran-Martin-Bryant said: “I am delighted that the Government has provided further funding to Bedford so that improvements can be made to cycling infrastructure and walking schemes across the borough.

"Cycling and walking bring the benefits of healthier and cheaper journeys which protect the environment and I look forward to the Mayor using this funding boost in new and imaginative ways to encourage even more people to use the option more frequently.”

Councillor Charles Royden, portfolio holder for environment, highways and Transport, said: “I am delighted to announce our largest ever investment in cycling in the history of Bedford Borough of almost £5 million. This funding will supercharge walking and cycling in the borough and help us continue to deliver the necessary infrastructure required to support residents to cycle safely and confidently.

“In the last 12 months, we’ve developed a comprehensive network of new cycle routes, which has created greater cycling connectivity.

"We have also implemented 20mph zones across the network to make our roads safer for cyclists and installed new cycle storage facilities across the town centre. To help reduce pollution we have introduced our School Streets initiative at a number of schools in the borough, with the pilot site at Cauldwell School already seeing an increase in walking and cycling and a marked improvement in local air quality.

“These projects have been designed and developed through engaging with local residents and local cycling groups, who make productive suggestions on how we can improve cycling infrastructure for them and other road users. Despite significant funding cuts from the government, we will continue to invest in making cycling safer and more accessible across the borough.”