Creating paths for everyone

We are working to make the National Cycle Network safer by increasing its number of traffic-free miles.

Two women sat in a trailer at the front of a bike being pedalled by a woman all smiling on a rural part of the Network

Together, we're moving towards our vision of a traffic-free, more consistent and accessible Network for everyone

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is working with our partners in national and local government, organisations in the charity sector and community-led groups to bring people closer to the places and people they love.

We’re involving local communities in shaping and caring for their local paths. And we're responding to feedback from people who use the Network to create paths for everyone.

Click on the map to find out more about each project, or you can open the map in a new window.

By 2030 we want to see

One million people

reconnected to nature through the Network, focusing on those who are currently most disconnected

Five sector-leading projects

on the National Cycle Network, showing how climate resilience and low-carbon construction can be built into active travel infrastructure

Our new strategy puts the National Cycle Network at the heart of what we do

We're building our National Cycle Network to help bring everyone closer to the places and people they love through walking, wheeling and cycling.

And we're focusing even more on delivering the biggest positive impact for people and communities who currently have fewer opportunities to walk, wheel and cycle.

We will do this by:

  • removing or redesigning every single physical barrier on the Network, offering disabled people, young families and people with mobility needs more opportunities to walk, wheel and cycle
  • delivering co-design work with women and girls to improve safety, particularly on off-road routes
  • collaborating with community-led organisations on 10 projects to extend or improve the Network, making sure we prioritise the needs and aspirations of communities
  • connecting one million people to nature, focusing on those who currently are most disconnected
  • connecting one million people currently experiencing social and economic disadvantage with jobs, education, services and local facilities.

Building on our Paths for Everyone review

In 2018, we presented a new vision for the National Cycle Network in our Paths for Everyone review.

The publication of our Paths for Everyone report was an important milestone for our charity. 

It gave us the catalyst and the opportunities to work with volunteers, communities and partners to deliver significant improvements to the Network, which continue to make a difference to lives across the country, every single day.

Our new 2050 strategy's strong focus to our work on the National Cycle Network means we no longer need a separate strategy. 

We are building on the strong foundations of Paths for Everyone.

Check out some of our work on the Network

  • Our traffic-free routes and greenways design guide

    We provide guidance for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of new traffic-free routes and greenways.

    Discover more with our design guide

  • People on bikes struggling with a barrier gate in Reading on National Route 4

    Barriers on the National Cycle Network

    We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to help you get physical barriers on your local routes redesigned or removed, to make traffic-free routes more accessible for everyone.

    Find out more about barriers on the Network

  • Making space for nature

    In the face of a national climate and ecological emergency, traffic-free paths have the power to improve biodiversity and protect wildlife.

    Learn about how our ecologists are making space for nature