Children from across the Liverpool City Region joined forces this week to share their ideas for healthier, safer and greener journeys at the region’s first Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Celebration.
Held at Volair Huyton, the event brought together pupils from five primary schools to celebrate the positive impact of active travel and explore how walking, wheeling and cycling can help create healthier communities, cleaner air and safer streets.
Through a series of interactive activities and discussions, they shared their ideas for making it easier for more families to make shorter journeys without using a car.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram joined the celebration to hear directly from pupils about their experiences, before announcing Summerhill Primary School as the winner of a city region-wide video competition celebrating active travel.
The school’s entry impressed judges with its creative take on the benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling to school.
The day also included a pledge activity, led by members of the Liverpool City Region Youth Combined Authority, allowing children and decision-makers to commit to supporting safer, healthier and more sustainable school journeys in the future.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:
“We’ve already delivered miles of safer walking and cycling routes and introduced more School Streets to make the school run safer and less stressful.
“But my ambition is to make active travel the first choice for everyday journeys. Whether it’s walking or cycling to school, popping to the shops or commuting to work, we’re making it easier for people to leave the car at home.
“That means continuing to invest in better infrastructure, safer routes and programmes that give young people and families the confidence to travel actively.
“Walking, wheeling and cycling are good for our health, help tackle congestion and improve the air we all breathe.
“By making these journeys safer, simpler and more accessible, we’re giving people real choice in how they get around while creating healthier, greener communities for everyone.”
Multimillion Pound Network Expansion Targets Regional Transport Integration
The celebration forms part of wider efforts to encourage more children and families to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for shorter journeys to establish healthier habits that can last a lifetime.
Active travel is a key part of the Liverpool City Region’s plans for a modern, integrated transport network, linking in with bus, rail, ferries and future plans including a new rapid transit system.
More than £110m has been committed to active travel infrastructure across the region, helping to deliver a 600km network of walking and cycling routes connecting communities across all six boroughs.
To date, 148km of new and upgraded routes have already been delivered, making it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys.
Alongside investment in infrastructure, the Combined Authority is working with local councils, schools and community partners to support initiatives such as School Streets, cycle training and behaviour-change programmes that encourage more people to travel actively.
Organisers hope the Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Celebration will become an annual fixture, giving more young people the opportunity to share their ideas, inspire others and champion active travel within their schools and communities.
