Why West Yorkshire Needs a Walking & Cycling Commissioner

West Yorkshire lacks a Walking & Cycling Commissioner. It’s a critical role that is left to councillors on the transport committee. So who is ensuring there is collaboration across authorities? Is West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) making the most of additional funding opportunities, that projects meet design standards, and that the region maintains a good relationship with Active Travel England?

This is a role that all other established Mayors (e.g. (Greater London, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and even the newly established East Midlands) have appointed. 11 of the 12 English Mayors came together at Active Travel York in early July to set out some key priorities: https://activetravelengland.gov.uk/news/englands-mayors-gather-pledge-national-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-network-backed-government

To achieve a region where “everyone who wants to can walk and cycle” by 2028 will require many rolling programmes of delivery. The best way of ensuring this is happening in all corners of the region is by having someone accountable to both the Mayor and the public through the Commissioner role.

There is also a critical job to do in advocacy for active travel. Elsewhere the commissioner acts as an advocate for communities, including those bereaved or injured through road harm, raises concerns and gives feedback about active travel and road safety in a way that committees and officers do not do.

At times it feels there is not a clear strategy with effective advocacy. Whilst the authority holds bold ambitions, change remains slow at best. We think there would be support for this move by a wide range of interest groups including on the health, wellbeing and road safety agenda.

Despite some innovative initiatives, WYCA’s active travel function operates as a low status function. Until last year the lead elected member was now ex-Councillor Manisha Kaushik, from a Huddersfield ward in Kirklees, with no direct involvement in the issues locally and we witnessed a complete absence of advocacy over two years. We could do so much better.