Communities across England are set to benefit from £101 million of funding to provide high-quality walking and cycling routes and improve the quality of local public engagement for new walking and cycling schemes, free e-cycle loans, expanding trials of side road zebra crossings and developing new active travel routes in National Parks.

Active Travel England (ATE) announced that the funding will enable local authorities to deliver walking and cycling schemes and councils will also be able to undertake proper consultation with local communities.

It is hoped the measures will unlock sustainable transport options for millions more people across England and give people the choice to travel safely on foot or by cycle.

More than half of the funding will go to deprived communities.

The schemes, which are funded by ATE, have been designed to benefit all communities, and local authorities will work closely with residents to ensure they are attractive and inclusive for all. There is a focus on safety and accessibility to give more people the choice to travel by foot or bike.

It is hoped the funding will improve people's health, reduce air pollution and make streets safer.

National active travel commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: "This funding is not only going to give millions of people safer and more enjoyable ways to get to school, the shops and workplaces but it will also help local authorities to work with communities to come up with plans for future projects that will make the most difference, providing excellent value for money.

"We’re not just talking towns and cities. A lot of the funding is going to rural areas and we’re funding National Parks to develop new walking and cycling routes. This money is about innovation, too, and we’re excited to work with the West Midlands and Greater Manchester to trial and assess simpler zebra crossings and technologies to assist visually impaired people."

Roads minister, Guy Opperman, said: "We’re committed to ensuring people can travel in the way that works best for them, which is why we’re investing over £100 million for over 100 kilometres of new walking and cycling routes, improved access to our national parks, and e-cycle loan schemes.

"This funding is not just an investment in new infrastructure, but in communities that will benefit from the social mobility and health benefits that improved and new walking and cycling routes will bring."

The £101 million funding package is split between £45.7 million of capital funding awarded to local authorities as part of Active Travel Fund 4 Extension funding; £51.5 million of revenue funding awarded to local authorities as part of the annual Capability Fund for 2023/24 and 2024/25; £2.4 million to local authorities and Cycling UK for e-cycle loan programmes; £1 million to National Parks; and £200,000 to West Midlands Combined Authority to trial simple zebra crossings on side roads.

Four authorities will receive a share of £2.4 million funding to pilot free e-cycle loan schemes in their areas, following a national trial which saw people take out a free month-long e-cycle loan. People and business in South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Leicester and Luton and Dunstable will be given the opportunity to try e-cycles.

At the moment, nine in ten journeys to National Parks are made by car. Funding will be used by local authorities to develop a pipeline of projects for future investments, with a focus on inclusive routes that connect schools, employment and leisure sites with local communities. It is hoped that better walking and cycling routes will bring health, environmental and cost benefits to residents and the more than 90 million people who visit National Parks each year.

David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and cycling lead for England’s National Parks, said: "Credit to Active Travel England for reaching out to National Park Authorities. We are now working together to develop improved guidance to rural local authorities and initiate and deliver some fantastic projects to improve walking and cycling opportunities for millions of people.

"This new funding will make a real difference to the delivery of our ambitions around improving the health and wellbeing of the nation and providing the greater travel opportunities that are needed to reduce our carbon emissions."