Walking and cycling strategy

We are working with regional partner councils to develop a series of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans for West Yorkshire

We are working with regional partner councils to develop a series of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans for West Yorkshire.

These are being developed in line with government methodology to take a long-term approach to the development of cycling and walking networks in there are, based on evidence on existing and future travel patterns and current barriers to walking and cycling.

We have recently completed a round of engagement work on their development, and below you can find the initial phase 1 plans for each partner council.

What is a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan?

In 2017 the Government published its first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which was accompanied by guidance for local authorities on ways to identify improvements for cycling and walking improvements, through the development of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans – known as “LCWIPs”.

LCWIPs enable local authorities to take a long-term approach to the development of networks of walking and cycling routes that connect places that people need to get to, whether for work, education, shopping or for other reasons, based on evidence on existing and future travel patterns and current barriers to walking and cycling. LCWIPs include network plans for walking and cycling which identify preferred routes and core zones for further development, and a prioritised programme of infrastructure improvements for future investment.

Why are we developing these Plans?

Our West Yorkshire Transport Strategy 2040, adopted in 2017, sets out adopted policies to provide strategic and local networks of high quality walking and cycling routes and mid-term targets to increase the number of trips made by bike and on foot by 2027, by 300% and 10% respectively.

We are developing our LCWIPs in phases and we have completed a first phase of work which covers specific geographic areas as part of an initial phase of development. The areas covered in this first phase are described in the detailed reports available to view, below. We are currently planning the next phase of work, to ensure that the LCWIPs provide wider geographic coverage across the region.

We have already made significant investments in improvements to our walking and cycling networks, and supporting behaviour change activities, through our dedicated cycling and walking programme, CityConnect, as well as other investment programmes such as Connecting Leeds and the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. Development of LCWIPs will inform future investment in provision for walking and cycling, forming part of a future connectivity pipeline across all modes of transport serving West Yorkshire enabling more people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys and helping us to meet our targets and deliver our policies.

We are developing these plans in advance of funding being secured to construct all the improvements identified through this work. However, having LCWIPs in place will help us decide what improvements to make and will help us make the case to Government for future investment in walking and cycling in our region.

Phase one documents

We are developing a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for each of the five partner council areas in West Yorkshire. Our approach follows government guidance, and builds on work to identify networks for walking and cycling already carried out by partners in the region. More detail on the development process is provided in the detailed reports for each partner council area.

Below are the phase one LCWIP documents for each partner council area, including a summary document and more detailed background report.