Building on the success of our awards in 2025 and 2024, the Walk Ride GM Active Travel Awards celebrate the progress being made across our city region for active travel. Everything from the best active travel scheme built this year, to celebrating the community groups and champions who are working hard to make walking, wheeling and cycling more accessible and inclusive in all parts of Greater Manchester.
Voting is now open via this form, and you can read more about the nominees below.
Our award nominees have been nominated by people from across Greater Manchester. We’ve tried our best to check for accuracy.
People’s Active Travel Champion
- Belinda Everett
Belinda works tirelessly as cycle mayor and Bee Pedal Ready! She is an inspiration to women and girls in getting people into cycling, teaching, fixing and building confidence. She is a force for good and inspired me and many others to promote cycling in our communities too. - Debbie Watson
Deb has been a part of Walk Ride GM since the first meeting back in 2018. She’s a champion for active travel in Trafford, celebrating the achievements in her area and organising community activities. Always there for a friendly chat and support, and she works hard to maintain the group’s social media presence. - Harry Gray
Harry continues to proactively move the active travel agenda forward via WRGM campaigns, research, and bridge building with key actors. - Kate Johnson
Kate is Practice Manager at a GP practice and has championed active travel in a health care setting. First by securing funding for a bike shelter back in 2024, and since then she has collaborated with other organisations to set up a Bike Library which now supports patients to borrow bikes. - Sean Whyment
Sean supports many fellow campaigners by reviewing multiple planning, council, government and meeting agenda documents and creating summaries to help others understand active travel progress. He really does know every active travel document known to man! - Tiffany Chong
Tiffany tirelessly gets involved in lots of different aspects of active travel and has done for years – as a School Street volunteer, setting up a Bike Bus at her children’s school, working on The Buzz project, her involvement in Walk Ride Chorlton and in organising The Bike Bus Pedal Party. It’s a lot to juggle alongside family responsibilities and Tiff does it all with lots of positivity. - Tom Warden
Tom is a real champion in the Tameside area. He promotes consultations, shares draft responses as well as designs Walk Ride leaflets and has been known to sneak them onto various stalls at promotional events.
People’s Active Travel Champion (professional)
- Adam Towers (Tameside Council)
Since taking ownership of Tameside’s School Streets programme in January, Adam has provided the leadership and momentum needed to move the programme forward. He has embedded School Streets as a strategic priority, expanded the team. He has also created opportunities for others to develop, including arranging a TfGM training day. Adam is always
the first to champion his team’s successes and his leadership and commitment have been instrumental in taking School Streets in Tameside to the next level. - Alex Whittaker (Rochdale Council)
Alex has been the mainstay of designing and implementing Rochdale Council’s walking and cycling projects. He was key to the team at Rochdale winning Most Improved Council at last year’s awards, and continues to be a voice supporting active travel within the Highways team. - Josef Whitfield (Manchester City Council)
Josef Whitfield is one of Manchester’s most influential active travel champions. He has helped make walking, wheeling and cycling safer, easier and more attractive through his work on Manchester’s 20mph programme, inclusive side-road junction design and Active Travel Network Plan. A passionate advocate for evidence-led, people-focused transport planning, Joe consistently goes above and beyond to achieve better outcomes for residents. - Kate Stabler and Mike Loughrey (Manchester City Council)
Kate Stabler and Mike Loughrey are making a real difference to active travel in Manchester through their work on School Streets and cycle hangars. Their evidence-led approach ensures School Streets are prioritised for schools most in need, while their positive engagement with schools and communities removes barriers to active travel, builds support and creates lasting change. - Louise Robbins (Greater Manchester Moving)
Louise is Strategic Lead for Walking, Wheeling and Cycling at GM Moving. Since she joined the organisation in January 2010 she has been leading, influencing and supporting the growth of active travel in Greater Manchester. She leads the delivery of Greater Manchester’s shared walking ambition to enable the greatest number of people to routinely walk for travel convenience as well as pleasure, personal or environmental benefit. - Mel Connell (Your Trust Rochdale)
She’s worked tirelessly as a bikeability instructor at the National Cycling Academy, and helped train many others. She’s now working at Your Trust Rochdale, and you’ll regularly see her at all manner of cycling events, including as their mascot Rochelle. - Richard Smith (Wigan Council)
Richard is absolutely tireless in creating, managing and promoting new active opportunities and activities for the community of Wigan and GM. A full calendar of led walks, rides and Three Sisters racecourse active open days. Richard has never stopped bringing normal everyday people in and showing them this is a real option for them. - Richard Butler, Jonathan Salter, and Glyn Boucher (TfGM)
The TfGM Urban Traffic Control team have championed the development of safer and innovative junctions and crossings for many years, often going against the flow to promote designs which have been truly groundbreaking. Without UTC, we wouldn’t have Sparrow crossings and Cyclops junctions. Behind the scenes, and without being credited, these guys have quietly done amazing things, often in the face of fierce resistance, and we need to celebrate it and say thanks!
Best Activation Event
- Bike Bus Pedal Party
Six bike buses from schools across south Manchester and Trafford joined forces to cycle together in a series of mini rides from school to Longford park; over 150 cyclists from reception to year 6 joined a cycle around the park with a celebration and snacks! This was planned by some amazing parent volunteers and was a joy to connect the bike buses and train communities. These bike buses/trains have done a huge amount to support many parents to feel confident and safer riding on the roads with their children and making our presence felt and heard. - Walk on the Wildside, Cyan Lines
Cyan Lines Walk on the Wildside transformed city centre streets into vibrant spaces for people, creating a welcoming environment for walking, wheeling, cycling, play and community activity. By temporarily reallocating road space, the event gave thousands of people the opportunity to experience Manchester differently and imagine a more people-friendly city. A diverse programme of activities attracted people of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging exploration, interaction and active travel. More than a one-day event, Walk on the Wildside demonstrated the value of creating healthier, greener and more inclusive public spaces, helping build public support for lasting changes that make streets work better for everyone. - Cycle Three Sisters
Twice a year Wigan Council “Take over” the Go-Kart track and transform it into a celebration of bikes and wellbeing. Hundreds of people, from kids on balance bikes to mamils wanting a rare Strava segment. They have bikes to borrow (including adapted bikes so everyone is included), Wheels for all, Dr Bike, bike marking, and many partner stalls. - School Streets make children’s lives better
Tameside Council’s activation event at Livingstone Primary School brought to life the core principles of School Streets in a positive, engaging and community-focused way. The event demonstrated how reducing traffic around schools can make streets safer, healthier and more welcoming spaces for children and families to enjoy. The event brought together Mums for Lungs, the Executive Member for Towns, Transport and Connectivity, cross-party engagement, Walk Ride GM, and arts and crafts for children. By creating a safe and vibrant space to bring the community together, the event supported positive behaviour change, raised awareness of the School Streets programme, and showcased how active travel has a transformative impact on local communities and gives children the best start in life. - Seymour Park Gearing Up for High School Year 6 Transition Ride (Trafford Council / Bee Pedal Ready)
An innovative way to build on the success of the School Street and support the development of lifelong active travel habits, the transition ride involved a guided ride for Year 6 pupils and their parents from Seymour Park Primary to Stretford High. The route incorporated the new Talbot Road infrastructure and aimed to teach valuable cycling skills, build confidence and independence for children, and reassure parents that cycling can be a safe and sustainable travel option.
Best Campaign or Community Group
- Bolton Station Cycle Centre
Bolton Station Cycle Centre runs consistent friendly activities in a prominent accessible location, this year including Dr Bike & guided rides with free bike hire if needed. They’ve overcome challenges with running a bike library and kept going. Through their location and activities over a number of years they’ve put out a strong positive message about active travel and fun in a location where it doesn’t have a previous strong tradition. - The Flowhesion Foundation – MAMS, NANS and PRAMS
Flowhesion’s Mams, Nans and Prams makes walking accessible to mothers and grandmothers through pram-friendly routes. Bilingual facilitators welcome women facing language barriers or isolation. 90% of attendees reported improved physical and mental health, 81% stronger relationships and 85% greater confidence. Walks build friendships, connect women with parks and encourage activity. Four volunteers trained as champions; two earned a Level 1 Certificate in Fitness and Active Leisure, supporting the walks. The project was chosen as a case study and showcased at the Making Active Places, Active Travel England 2026 National Conference. The programme shows active travel can be inclusive and achievable. - Streets for People Levy & Burnage
A continuous voice for positive change in south-east Manchester, S4P regularly engage with community events by hosting stalls and cycle repair services, as well as building political bridges. - Trafford Community Collective and Trafford Council
Hannah Stanton, Hannah Garrett and Lizzie Gough are outstanding advocates for active travel, consistently going above and beyond to champion and celebrate Trafford’s schools. Their commitment has helped Trafford deliver 10 high-quality School Streets and support nine schools to achieve Modeshift STARS accreditation. From supporting the Active Travel Commissioner’s visit to St Matthew’s to showcasing Seymour Park School Street at the Modeshift Convention and supporting a TfGM presentation at the event, and soon to be helping arrange promotional School Streets videos, the team embraces every opportunity to share Trafford’s successes. No ask is too big and their enthusiasm and dedication deserve recognition. - Walk Ride Chorlton
Walk Ride Chorlton has continued to meet up regularly even though the Chorlton Cycleway has been completed. They continue to keep their eye on the ball and raise issues and concerns. They have recently reached out to Trafford advocates to discuss the missing link between Chorlton and Stretford. - What If? Stockport
It’s a much-needed hub for engaging with like-minded advocates via events and initiatives like Cycling UK’s e-bike loans.
Best Campaign Success
- Ardwick Climate Action with Co-op Medlock Academy
They’ve been campaigning and lobbying for a crossing opposite Co-op Medlock Academy. Their research showed that people living on the other side of the A6 (Ardwick Green Park) were opting to drive to school, which exacerbates issues of air pollution. They found that the majority of parents would take up active travel to the school if this infrastructure was in place, which would aid physical and mental health, as well as lower exposure to pollutants. A smart crossing will be delivered by Spring 2027! It’s a testament to them to now see a cohort of kids from Ardwick that now realise that change can happen given the right messaging and campaigning. Prepare for the next gen of activists! - GM Clean Air Plan lobbying
GM Healthy Cities Coalition is made up of Walk Ride GM, Clean Cities, Mums for Lungs, Let’s Talk Clean Air Whalley Range, Ardwick Climate Action Group and Friends of the Earth Manchester. They have consistently held GMCA and TfGM to account to be more transparent in their reporting on progress against the plan and their in-depth data analysis resulted in additional monitors being installed in key city centre locations such as John Dalton Street, Portland Street and Piccadilly. This type of below-the-radar campaigning is crucial to ensuring against false claims of success that risk reducing efforts and policies by authorities. - Leigh Bike Library
It’s the busiest bike library in GM! Over 450 bike loans, nearly half of these were purchased at the end of the loan period, and a third of loans were to families in the poorest 20% for whom transport poverty is a real problem. - Residents of College Road
The residents of College Road in Whalley Range lobbied their councillor until they got a camera installed to deal with the obstructive cycleway parking by the shops on Upper Chorlton Road. No expertise was required, just a lot of reporting and lobbying by residents who aren’t necessarily active travel experts but could see the problem and its everyday effect on pedestrians and cyclists (especially families at Manley Park school) - Walk Ride GM’s contribution to Making Active Places
Active Travel England’s big annual event took place in Manchester this year, and Walk Ride GM was a key contributor.
Best Proposed Active Travel Scheme
- A560 Hattersley (Tameside)
‘Best’ in the sense that it’s a huge step forward for the Tameside Council political position just 2 years ago, when the Executive Cabinet recommended that “the Council will not approve any segregated cycle lanes within the scheme”. This positive change is thanks to the work of officers and Walk Ride Tameside helping to shift the dial in the borough. - Cyan Line CL5 (Manchester)
The 3.7-mile (6km) route will provide a signposted route to the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live and add lighting, better surfacing and wayfinding along with a wheelchair-friendly alternative access to Co-op Live. Playparks, rest points, tree planting and rain gardens will be added. The route is also a circular route back to Piccadilly via Medlock Valley and Mayfield. The improvements will encourage more use and embed active travel to these locations. - Oldham Road (Manchester)
The platonic ideal of a Streets for All scheme, which will transform Oldham Road into a place where walking, wheeling and cycling are not only safe but enjoyable, and ensure that bus travel is quick and reliable. Manchester City Council did a great job of publicising the consultation and explaining how the proposals will work. This scheme will make journeys safer, healthier and more accessible while helping more people choose walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport. - Salford Crescent to MediaCityUK Improving Journeys
Provides new and upgraded infrastructure within Salford’s Innovation Triangle, improving connections between the hospital, university and MediaCity/Quays.
The scheme includes:
● Four new CYCLOPS junctions, two of which safely negotiate tram lines
● New pedestrian and parallel (“SPARROW”) crossings
● Protected cycle tracks on Langworthy Road, South Langworthy Road and Liverpool Street
● A bus/tram gate on South Langworthy Road, improving journey times and reliability for public transport.
Together, these improvements create safer, more direct and better-connected journeys for people walking, cycling and using public transport, supporting sustainable growth across this important part of Salford. - Wythenshawe 20mph (Manchester)
An essential piece of the active travel jigsaw in the Manchester borough to enable safer streets and reduce road danger.
Best Completed Active Travel Scheme
- Albert Square pedestrianisation
The pedestrianisation and gradual reopening of Albert Square demonstrates the potential of well-executed pedestrianisation. Making that area much more pedestrian-friendly and creating a people-first space that is much more in keeping with European plazas and public spaces. - Chapel Street (Salford)
We’ve waited a long time for this one to be completed, but it’s finally here and it’s as good as we hoped. It has set the benchmark for an active travel scheme in Greater Manchester in terms of overall design. A pretty good example of what Streets for All should look like. - Ancoats Streets for All
Ancoats Streets for All has transformed one of Manchester’s fastest-growing neighbourhoods into a safer, healthier and more walkable place. By removing through-traffic, introducing six modal filters, improving crossings and creating calmer streets, the scheme has rebalanced priority from vehicles to people. The results are impressive: around 800 fewer vehicles enter the neighbourhood each day, walking trips have increased by around 42%, cycling levels have grown by around 54%, and pedestrian flows near Cutting Room Square now reach around 10,000 people per day. Ancoats shows how existing streets can be retrofitted to reduce road danger, improve accessibility and create thriving places where walking, wheeling and cycling are the natural choice. - Mersey Valley Way (Stockport)
The long-awaited removal of discriminatory barriers from the Trans Pennine Trail (campaigned for by Walk Ride GM and delivered by Stockport Council) will be transformative for disabled local people who were previously excluded from this route. Furthermore Stockport have provided benches, habitat improvements and a family nature trail showcasing the different wildlife that can be spotted along the Mersey. - Talbot Road / Seymour Grove junction
Continuing to knit together a continuous and functioning network in southwest Greater Manchester. - Wigan to Standish Greenway
An exemplar route through the greenbelt connecting the satellite village of Standish to its key town of Wigan, providing a safe alternative to the busy A49. The route makes use of a disused railway line, an overgrown and largely abandoned bridleway and a new permissive route through woodland. The scheme also features excellent natural/woodland drainage to make the path feel like a walk in the woods, rather than an over-engineered highway scheme.
Best Community Engagement
- Connecting Partington scheme (Trafford)
The scheme involves a Community Liaison Officer, who has implemented a community Whatsapp channel. This updates residents on progress of the scheme, before/after pictures, work completed and changes to plans. It keeps residents informed and involved in the aims and progression of the project. It has also involved focus group visits to local schools to talk about the project and get feedback from pupils, a poster competition for pupils and a community collage. - Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council’s ‘The Big Transport Conversation’
For many residents, transport is the difference between opportunity and isolation. The Big Transport Conversation ensures that Tameside’s future transport system is shaped by the lived experiences of those who rely on it every day. Going beyond statutory consultation, they engaged with over 100 residents, businesses, community organisations and under-represented groups to understand how transport affects access to jobs, education, healthcare and community life. Feedback influenced priorities for safer streets, active travel, better public transport and stronger connections to key destinations. Residents’ experiences are now at the centre of decision-making, embedding co-design with Tameside’s long-term transport vision and ensuring local voices continue to shape future improvements. - WRGM’s Oldham Road Consultation Response Support
WRGM supported local people to respond to the Oldham Road consultation, energising the public to demonstrate the demand for Streets for All and to actively participate in the consultation process to show their support and provide feedback.
Best Property Development Supporting Active Travel
- Plot 9A, River Street (Manchester)
Completed in 2025, Plot 9A at First Street demonstrates how active travel can be placed at the heart of a major new commercial development. The building provides outstanding facilities for cycling, including 270 secure cycle parking spaces, 270 lockers, 27 showers, drying rooms and cycle maintenance facilities, making cycling to work a convenient and attractive option. Particularly of note is the visible and convenient cycle storage access point by the front door to the development – showcasing the cycling has been considered from the start. - Stretford Mall (Trafford)
Putting people at the heart of a high street! - Weir Mill (Stockport)
The development marketing has made clear that the location suits sustainable and active travel. There is no car parking and it references it being close to the Trans Pennine Trail and providing secure bicycle storage for residents. The original spec suggested that it would result in new walking and cycling links to the town centre and the Trans Pennine Trail, as well as over 360 cycle parking spaces (though this hasn’t been verified). - Valette Square (Salford)
Has pedestrian priority streets through the centre of the housing development.
Best Education Travel Scheme/Project
- Bike Bus Pedal Party
Seven bike buses from schools across south Manchester and Trafford joined forces to cycle together in a series of mini rides from school to Longford park; over 150 cyclists from reception to year 6 joined a cycle around the park with a celebration and snacks! This was planned by some amazing parent volunteers and was a joy to connect the bike buses and train communities. These bike buses/trains have done a huge amount to support many parents to feel confident and safer riding on the roads with their children and making our presence felt and heard. - Kearsley West Primary School and Bolton Council
Kearsley West Primary School has had an exceptional year for active travel. In April, the school launched a School Street with support from Bolton Council and dedicated parent volunteers. In June, pupils welcomed Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey, took part in an Active Travel Inspection and enjoyed a Play Street celebration. In September, the school became the first in Bolton to achieve Modeshift STARS Good Travel Plan Accreditation. Since the School Street launched, walking has increased from 41% to 47%, and cycling from 4% to 7%, while car use has fallen from 44% to 29%. - Manchester City Council’s Strategic School Street Commitment
Manchester City Council has shown incredible ambition with their delivery of School Streets, with 10 schemes already in operation and an ambitious target of at least one School Street
in every ward by 2028. The council intend to repurpose planters from its World Car Free Day event to create permanent School Street closures and sociable places outside the school, and are in the process of converting volunteer-led schemes to ANPR. Additionally, the council is proactive in sharing its experience, with Kate Stabler kindly hosting two new Tameside officers at Medlock Academy to showcase Manchester’s approach. - Shevington High School, Wigan
The Youth Travel Ambassadors at Shevington have campaigned for, and secured funding for, repairs to their bike shed and got funding for a new pedestrian crossing. They were also one of 14 schools from across the whole of the UK to share the title Local Authority School of the year from Modeshift STARS. Shevington High School’s Youth Travel Ambassadors have shown the real impact young people can have on their community. Concerned by the lack of safe crossing points outside school, students gathered evidence, built support and campaigned for safer infrastructure. They presented their case to local councillors, Wigan Council officers and Dame Sarah Storey, helping secure a new puffin crossing on Shevington Lane. The crossing will make journeys safer and easier for pupils, families and residents, while supporting more active journeys to school. Their achievement is a fantastic example of young people having a meaningful voice, influencing decision-makers and creating positive, lasting change. - The Buzz
Walk Ride GM are transforming the school run; it was fantastic to see 140 attendees on its first Friday. Getting kids walking and cycling to school is fundamental to our cause. Missie, Elsa and Tiffany have been absolutely fabulous in taking this forward. From developing a theory of change and baselining, to creating a pipeline of schools who want support with a walking or cycling bus, they are now delivering new schemes in record time. The bike bus for St Johns RC Primary School in Chorlton was delivered in 5 weeks and between 50 and 80 children in the first few weeks have participated. This scheme is an innovation project and we are learning so much about what makes a bike bus fail or thrive, contributing the much needed support that time-poor schools really need. This project will not only deliver change but inform the best approach for making buses work in the future. Their dedication and enthusiasm for this project has been astounding. - Urmston 3 in 1 School Street (Trafford)
It’s a massive achievement by the volunteers – a School Street that has been operating full time with volunteers for nearly 3.5 years, serving 3 schools and a private nursery and benefiting 1,800 pupils. Almost all the volunteers do multiple shifts every week and, especially as most do not have children at the schools, their perseverance and dedication is amazing. It’s a difficult place to marshal traffic, and no one school takes ownership of the scheme, so volunteer determination has been central to its success. - Wigan Council Schools Streets, Modeshift and Dr Bike approach
Combining several elements, Wigan Council have shown a commitment to improved education travel by cycle. Wigan’s Road Safety, Active Travel and Activation teams have achieved an incredible milestone, becoming the first Greater Manchester local authority to have more than 10 operational School Streets. Wigan now has 11 schools with a School Street, soon to be 12, alongside an impressive 17 schools with Modeshift STARS accreditation. Also, when schools sign up for Bikeability or are close to a new infrastructure, they are offered free Dr Bike sessions. Pupils and the wider community then bring bikes to school for Dr Bike and free bike lights. Bikes that can’t be fixed are given a voucher to redeem in our workshop. In 2025/26, 61 schools received the service with 949 cycles being checked and repaired. This equates to £33k of free repairs. 51% of schools are from the top 30% most deprived communities. The team works with schools to signpost to the boroughs bike libraries/training. Cycle maintenance training has been delivered. Servicing of the Bikeability fleet is also undertaken. Since 2022 up to July 2026, the team have delivered 230 free Dr Bikes and have worked on 4,500+ bikes at an estimated cost of £160k.