What we've achieved together in 2025
With your support, we've been able to continue making a positive difference to communities across the UK.
At Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, we make it possible for more people to walk, wheel and cycle safely, healthily and joyfully.
We work directly with communities across the UK to make change happen.
Then we evidence the impact to influence policies that push those changes further.
It’s grassroots action with added oomph.
We call it people-powered movement for a reason.
None of this would be possible without the support from our generous donors, dedicated volunteers, funders and partners.
Check out the amazing things we've achieved together in 2025.
Sue, one of our donors regularly cycles along the Network to raise funds for charity. The 67-year-old, who has heart disease and a pacemaker fitted, says training for her long-distance rides keeps her mind and her body happy
As soon as I get on my bike and get going, my worries just go right down.
Even if I’m upset or worried about something - I just slow down and enjoy the path and scenery.
Once I’m on the cycle paths I can just completely switch off and enjoy the wind in my face.
It’s a sense of freedom and that moment to switch off.
I’m just making the most with the time I’ve got left quite frankly.
We celebrated 30 years of the National Cycle Network
We're the charity behind the National Cycle Network - a network of signed paths and routes that connect people and places across the UK and provide traffic-free spaces for everyone to enjoy.
In the last 30 years our Network across the UK has grown significantly.
We plan to keep expanding these routes for more people to walk, wheel and cycle on.
With your help, we’re building a future where walking, wheeling and cycling are safe, joyful and accessible for everyone.
Improvements on the Network in 2025
13 miles
converted from on-road to traffic-free
95.5 miles
of signage improved on the National Cycle Network
560 barriers
removed or redesigned
79%
of these barriers are in Scotland
Before and after barrier redesign measures to improve accessibility on Hadrian's Cycleway (Route 72) in Newcastle upon Tyne. Credit: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Janet and Nessie, who cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats in their 60s
Because you're out in the elements every day regardless of the weather you concentrate more on what is immediately around you.
Listening to birdsong, enjoying the smell of honeysuckle and pine trees or stopping for a dip in a river.
It can be quite magical.
No Lycra, no problem: The sisters who took their time to cycle the length of the nation
Big Walk and Wheel 2025 was our biggest one yet
We celebrated another year of the UK's biggest inter-school competition encouraging children to walk, wheel and cycle to school.
A big thanks to our sponsor of the challenge, Schwalbe Tyres.
And not to mention all the amazing young people, their parents and caregivers and teaching staff who got involved.
Primary school pupils at Bunscoil Cholmcille School who took part in Big Walk and Wheel 2025. Credit: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Big Walk and Wheel 2025
2.8 million
The highest number of journeys ever recorded
23 trips to the moon
That's the equivalent of
Zeeshan has learnt to ride a trike with help from our I Bike Officer, Shani. Zeeshan has torsional malalignment and dyspraxia, which has prevented him from being able to participate in cycling – until now.
Shani has helped me get to a place I never knew I could get to. I always thought I would never be able to ride a bike.
Some people might think it’s a silly thing but I’m so proud I’ve managed to learn to cycle with Shani and it has given me the confidence to keep going.
I really want to be able to continue cycling and improve my health and enjoy the outdoors with family bike rides.
Being able to cycle would give me the freedom to be able to travel around and be independent.
It makes me feel so happy and free. I always feel so happy after I’ve been out in the fresh air riding the bike.
We also created the first ever Children’s Walking and Cycling Index
designed to help us understand the behaviours, barriers and attitudes affecting how children walk, wheel and cycle in the UK.
By listening to young people, decision-makers can change how they approach children’s journeys so we can make walking, wheeling and cycling a more attractive, and everyday way for children to travel.
Designing transport with children in mind makes it safer and more accessible for everyone: James' story
When I joined school in year seven, I wanted to cycle in, but my parents decided it was too dangerous.
But then new cycle paths were put in on my route and that convinced them to let me cycle. I'm now able to control what time I leave, not having to worry about buses being late.
As well as getting new cycle paths, I think we need to maintain the ones that we have, so that they're safe.
I hope that conditions of the road improve so more people can cycle to school and experience the joy that I have on my cycle.
Download the Children's Walking and Cycling Index report
We couldn't do what we do without our amazing volunteers
Over 11,500 hours
of volunteering on the Network, in the community and in schools by 480 volunteers
One of our wonderful volunteers on Route 75. Credit: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Working with communities
Thanks to a generous donation we were able to continue supporting women and children by teaching them how to cycle.
The anonymous donor was inspired to help after seeing coverage of our project in Big Issue.
They helped fund another six months of the project in 2025, allowing us to help even more domestic abuse survivors.
In Northern Ireland, our Active School Travel Programme reached over 57,000 pupils, parents, siblings and teachers.
We worked with over 520 schools and we saw an increase from 35% to 45% in the number of children travelling actively to school in 2024-2025.
Connecting more people to nature
A brand new traffic-free path was created in Scotland.
The Glencoe Greenway, stretching over three miles, offers people walking, wheeling and cycling a new opportunity to safely explore the stunning landscapes of The Glen.
This route now provides a safe, accessible and attractive alternative to using a car.
Kierson, one of our Programme Managers, undertook a Churchill Fellowship in 2025, focusing on how to help more disabled people discover the joys of cycling.
I had to learn to walk again after I sustained a spinal cord injury at the age of 23.
In one moment I went from being an active, able-bodied person to suddenly navigating the world with a significant disability.
Cycling gave me back something I thought I had lost: my freedom.
That experience has shaped my belief in the transformative power of cycling, not just for health, and mobility but for confidence, independence, and inclusion.
In 2025, Kierson completed his Churchill Fellowship research project - exploring how we can better utilise accessible sections of the National Cycle Network as a catalyst for encouraging more disabled people to experience cycling.
The launch of our new strategy and name
2025 marked the launch of our bold new five-year strategy and the launch of our new branding.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is the new name for Sustrans.
We're still the same charity that's been making it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle since 1977.
But our previous brand didn't easily help us showcase the huge impact that our work has on our health, our wellbeing and our world. And our purpose just didn't quite emotionally connect with people the way we knew it could.
That's why we've made changes to our look and how we talk about ourselves.
We did this to inspire even more people to join us in transforming how we travel.
We want to thank you for your support and for sticking by us during these changes.
Our 2025-50 strategy
Our three new strategic goals are:
- Building our National Cycle Network to help bring everyone closer to the places and people they love through walking, wheeling and cycling
- Connecting thriving neighbourhoods where everyone is free to live and move with ease
- Empowering millions to walk, wheel and cycle for their health, their wellbeing, and their world.
John Grimshaw, Sustrans' founder and engineer for Greenways and Cycleroutes
I'm really pleased to have the refocus on the National Cycle Network - on extending it, developing it, building it so that more and more people have access to it.
The Network still gives people safe, attractive routes to walk, wheel, or cycle.
But we’re not finished.
We need it to be as recognised as the National Highway Network is, walkers and cyclists need to be recognised as a key part of the transport package.
Get involved
Find out how you can support our work in making it possible for even more people to walk, wheel and cycle in 2026.
