Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Appointed to National Active Travel Board

David Skaith has been appointed as an advisor to the Active Travel England Board to help shape the national agenda for walking, wheeling, and cycling.

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, has been appointed as an advisor to the Active Travel England Board for the next two years.

The announcement, made on Tuesday, follows the launch of the Government's new Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy and recognises his commitment to making active travel safer, easier, and more accessible across the region.

In his new advisory role, Mr Skaith will support the delivery of national ambitions, which include ensuring that at least sixty per cent of children walk, wheel, or cycle to school by 2035. The strategy also aims to increase the proportion of short journeys in towns and cities made by walking or cycling to at least fifty-five per cent.

The appointment is expected to give North Yorkshire and the wider North a stronger voice in shaping the future of active travel on a national level.

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, said:

"Walking, wheeling and cycling should be safe, accessible and practical choices for everyone, whether you're travelling to school, work, the shops or simply enjoying our incredible region."

"Across York and North Yorkshire, we're already investing in projects that remove barriers to active travel and help people make healthier, more sustainable journeys."

"I'm delighted to be joining Active Travel England as an advisor at such an important moment. This record investment presents a huge opportunity to improve connections between communities, support local economies and give more people the confidence to choose active travel every day."

"I look forward to bringing the voice of York and North Yorkshire to the table and working with partners across the country to ensure this investment delivers real benefits for people and places."

Since his election in May 2024, the Mayor has prioritised active travel across the region. He has created a four million pound Active Travel Fund, which supports thirty-nine projects aimed at tackling barriers to walking, wheeling, and cycling. Furthermore, he has committed seventeen and a half million pounds for active travel over the next four years, with an additional thirty million pounds earmarked for measures to make the school run safer.

Mr Skaith also recently appointed Rhiannon Letman-Wade as the Active Travel Commissioner for York and North Yorkshire. She is currently working with partners to deliver a regional strategy.

Active Travel Commissioner for York and North Yorkshire, Rhiannon Letman-Wade, said:

"This appointment is an important recognition of the leadership York and North Yorkshire is showing on active travel and the ambition we have for our communities."

"The Government has set out a clear vision for increasing walking, wheeling and cycling, backed by significant long-term investment. Through the Mayor's role advising Active Travel England, our region will be well placed to help shape that national agenda while ensuring the opportunities and challenges facing places like our region are reflected in decision-making."

"We know that when people are given safe, accessible and attractive options, more people choose to travel actively. The work already under way across the region is creating the foundations for healthier journeys, stronger communities and greater independence for people of all ages."

The National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, noted that Mr Skaith brings valuable local knowledge, ambition, and commitment to the board.

National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said:

"Mayor David Skaith gets it. Safer streets aren’t just a transport issue, they’re a public health issue, an economic issue, and a quality-of-life issue."

"Having Helen and David as advisors means we are genuinely rooted in the places we are trying to change - bringing the voice of local leaders who are already making a real difference to delivery on the ground."

"Together, they will help us make sure this record investment reaches the communities that need it most."

Active Travel England confirmed that Mayor Helen Godwin will also join as an advisor alongside Mr Skaith. Additionally, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Lord Geoffrey Filkin have been appointed as non-executive directors to the board.

Alongside the new investment strategy, Active Travel England has published its 'Worth Every Step' delivery plan. This outlines how the funding will be used to create five thousand new walking, wheeling, and cycling routes, as well as ten thousand safer crossings by 2030.