View source for Walk Wheel Cycle Trust

{{Short description|British walking and cycling charity}}
{{Advert|date=December 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
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| image                    = Sustrans - Home - geograph.org.uk - 205530.jpg
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| caption                  = Headquarters of Sustrans in Bristol
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| predecessor              = Cyclebag
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| formation                = {{start date and age|1977|07}}
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| registration_id          = <!-- for non-profit org -->
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| headquarters             = [[Bristol]], England
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| coordinates              = {{coords|51.452|-2.599|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
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| region                   = United Kingdom
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| leader_title             = Chair
| leader_name              = Moray Macdonald
| leader_title2            = Chief Executive
| leader_name2             = Xavier Brice
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| board_of_directors       = Board of trustees (12 as of 2022)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/about-us/our-board-of-trustees/|title=Our board of trustees}}</ref>
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| budget                   = £46.0M
| budget_year              = 2018/2019
| revenue                  = £45.7M
| revenue_year             = 2018/2019
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| staff                    = 489
| staff_year               = 2018/2019
| volunteers               = 4,000
| volunteers_year          = 2018/2019
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| website                  = {{Official URL}}
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| formerly                 = Sustrans
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[[Image:Bristol-Bath Cyclepath 08.jpg|thumb|Sustrans' first route follows a disused railway through a [[green corridor]] in [[Bristol]]]]
'''Walk Wheel Cycle Trust''', formerly '''Sustrans''' ({{ipac-en|ˈ|s|u|s|t|r|æ|n|s}} {{respell|SUS|trans}}; a [[blend word|lexical blend]] of ''sustainable'' and ''transport''), is a British walking, wheeling and cycling charity, and the custodian of the [[National Cycle Network]].

Its flagship project is the [[National Cycle Network]], which has created {{convert|12,763|mi|km|abbr=off}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/national-cycle-network/about |title=About the National Cycle Network |publisher=Sustrans |access-date=2014-03-17}}</ref> of signed [[cycle route]]s throughout the United Kingdom, including {{convert|5273|mi|km|abbr=on}} of traffic-free paths. The rest of the network is on previously existing and mostly minor roads, in which motor traffic will be encountered.

The charity was founded as Sustrans in 1983, building on the earlier work of a group of cyclists and environmentalists in the [[Bristol]] area. It changed its name to Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in 2025.

==History==
[[Image:CBSustrans P1010152.JPG|upright|thumb|[[Narrowboat|Canal boat]] decked in Sustrans logo]]
Sustrans was formed in Bristol in July 1977 as '''Cyclebag''' by a group of cyclists and [[environmentalism|environmentalists]], as a result of doubts about the desirability of dependence on the private car, following the [[1973 oil crisis]], and the almost total lack of specific provision for cyclists in most British cities, in contrast to some other European countries.<ref name=guide>{{cite book |title=The Official Guide to the National Cycle Network |year=2002 |edition= 2nd |location=Italy |publisher=Canile & Turin |isbn= 1-901389-35-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mkweb.co.uk/cycling/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=11092 |title=Cycling in Milton Keynes &#124; Redways & Cycle Routes &#124; Sustrans Cycling |publisher=Mkweb.co.uk |access-date=2014-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728111447/http://www.mkweb.co.uk/cycling/displayarticle.asp?ID=11092 |archive-date=28 July 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

A decade earlier, the [[Beeching Axe]] closed many British railways that the government considered underused and too costly. One such railway was the former [[Midland Railway]] line between central Bristol and [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], closed in favour of the more direct, former [[Great Western Railway]] between the cities. Led by [[John Grimshaw (cyclist)|John Grimshaw]], Cyclebag leased part of the old route and together with many volunteers and the help of [[County of Avon|Avon]] County Council (Bristol and Bath were then part of the County of Avon) turned it into its first route, the [[Bristol & Bath Railway Path]].<ref name=guide/>

In the early 1980s, when unemployment rose, the organisation took advantage of government schemes to provide temporary employment to build similar "green routes". [[British Waterways]] and Cyclebag collaborated to improve [[towpath]]s along some [[canal]]s, which resulted in increased use of the towpaths, especially by cyclists.

In 1983, the charity Sustrans was founded. It had 11 directors (trustees, members, and board members of the charity) chosen by the existing board. The executive board was composed of the chief executive, John Grimshaw, and one of the two company secretaries.<ref name="Sustrans Ltd 2005">Sustrans Ltd. & PriceWaterHouseCoopers LLP, 2005. "Annual Report for the year ending March 2005." Accessed 20 December 2005.</ref>

By the early 1990s, Sustrans had a growing number of supporters, and the network of national routes was emerging. In 1995, it was granted £43.5 million from the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|Millennium Lottery Fund]]<ref name="Celebratory Events in 2005">Sustrans, 2005. "[http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1090917618220 Celebratory Events in 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212151916/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1090917618220 |date=12 December 2005 }}." Accessed 20 December 2005.</ref> to extend the [[National Cycle Network]] to smaller towns and rural areas, as well as launch the "Safe Routes to Schools" project, based on earlier state projects in Denmark.

The five-year project, [[Connect2]] was launched in 2006, and it aimed at improving local travel in 79 communities by creating new walking and cycling routes. In 2007, it received £50 million from the [[Big Lottery Fund|Big Lottery]]'s 'Living Landmarks; The People's Millions' competition, following a public vote.<ref>[http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/news/and-the-winner-is The People's 50 Million] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214155319/http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/news/and-the-winner-is|date=14 December 2007}}</ref>

In 2015, Sustrans ran the Campaign for Safer Streets, which encouraged people to write to Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] to encourage him to commit to funding safer walking and cycling routes to schools.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

In October 2015, Sustrans released its first Bike Life report.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bike Life|url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/overall-survey|access-date=2015-10-27|website=Sustrans|archive-date=25 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025001654/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/overall-survey|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was a survey of residents in seven UK cities, undertaken in conjunction with local councils and transport authorities, attempting to assess the current state of cycling in the UK. It covered areas such as safety, provision of [[cycling infrastructure]] and people's attitudes towards cycling.

In Scotland, the charity has established partnership teams, embedding officers in local councils as well as [[NHS Scotland]], the [[Scottish Environment Protection Agency]], [[NatureScot|Scottish Natural Heritage]], and [[Transport for Edinburgh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=14 December 2019 |title=Partnership working in Scotland |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/projects/2019/scotland/partnership-working-in-scotland/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120014137/https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/projects/2019/scotland/partnership-working-in-scotland/ |archive-date=20 January 2021 |website=Sustrans |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

In 2020–2021, Sustrans' executive team had a combined payroll of {{GBP|715,000}}, with its CEO receiving over {{GBP|110,000}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carruthers|first=Ben|date=23 July 2021|title=Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020/21|url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/9767/sustrans-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-21.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|47}}

The name of the charity changed from Sustrans to Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Carlton |date=5 September 2025 |title=Sustrans Changes Name To Walk Wheel Cycle Trust |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2025/09/03/sustrans-changes-name-to-walk-wheel-cycle-trust/ |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

==Funding==
The National Cycle Network was the first project to receive [[Millennium Commission]] funding in 1995. Sustrans has many sources of funding, and in the 2004/05 financial year, its income was £23.6 million: £2.1 million from supporters' donations, £8.5 million from the [[Department for Transport]] and a further £2.5 million from the National Opportunities Fund specifically for the Safe Routes projects. Additional funding comes from charitable grants and trusts, local government, and the sales of maps and books.<ref name="Sustrans Ltd 2005"/> In Scotland in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, £30 million of Spaces for People funding was granted to Sustrans by the Scottish Government to assist local authorities and statutory bodies in Scotland to provide safe walking and cycling infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 April 2020 |title=Spaces for People: Making essential travel and exercise safer during Coronavirus |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/projects/2020/scotland/spaces-for-people-making-essential-travel-and-exercise-safer-during-coronavirus/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Sustrans |language=en}}</ref>

==National Cycle Network==
[[File:Dodging rain at Freemans Way.jpg|thumb|right|Sustrans volunteers in [[Wetherby]], West Yorkshire]]
[[File:Sustrans Route 66 Osbaldwick-by-DS-Pugh.jpg|thumb|Sustrans Route 66 behind the [[Derwent Arms]], [[Osbaldwick]], [[York]]]]
{{main|National Cycle Network}}

The National Cycle Network was officially opened in June 2000,<ref name=cns>Cycle-Routes, 2005. "[http://www.cycle-routes.org/derbycycling/sustrans.html Sustrans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118225727/http://www.cycle-routes.org/derbycycling/sustrans.html |date=18 January 2015 }}." Accessed 3 January 2012.</ref> when {{convert|5000|mi|km|abbr=on}} had been completed, although some routes had been open for over a decade. In 2005 the network reached {{convert|10000|mi|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Celebratory Events in 2005"/> In urban areas, almost 20% of the network is free from motor traffic, though these sections can account for up to 80% of use. The more rural parts of the network see less motor traffic and are used primarily for leisure cycling.

Sustrans estimated that in 2005, the network carried 232,000,000 journeys by all classes of non-motorized users.<ref>Sustrans, 2006. "[http://www.sustrans.co.uk/webfiles/rmu/Route%20Monitoring%20Report%202005.pdf National Cycle Network Route User Monitoring Report to end of 2005]{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}." Accessed 3 May 2007.</ref> In 2010, the figure had risen to over 420,000,000 journeys.<ref>Beds for Cyclists, 2012. "[http://bedsforcyclists.co.uk/whyAdvertise.php National Cycle Network Route Usage 2000 - 2010]." Accessed 5 May 2012.</ref> The data collected by Sustrans to compile monitoring reports, from traffic counters and user surveys, showed that National Cycle Network usage is predominantly urban and on traffic-free sections. Furthermore, surveys show that only 35% of usage on urban sections of the NCN is for leisure purposes.

[[File:Bridge_14,_Harrogate_to_Church_Fenton_Line_(24th_April_2020)_002.jpg|thumb|right|Sustrans plaque near Wetherby, West Yorkshire]]
In 2018, Sustrans published the "National Cycle Network Review: Paths for Everyone" report which reviewed the quality and usage of the Network and set out a vision for its future. It estimated that in 2017–2018, 4.4 million users carried out 786 million cycling and walking trips on the Network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/about-us/paths-for-everyone/|title=Paths for Everyone|website=Sustrans|language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}}</ref>

==Criticism==
Sustrans has opponents within organisations that wish to reduce road haulage and motor travel by promoting the expansion of the modern railway network. It has also received criticism from members of the heritage railway movement. It has been accused of being uncompromising on route sharing; an example is the planned section of the [[Bodmin & Wenford Railway]] between [[Boscarne Junction railway station|Boscarne Junction]] and [[Wadebridge railway station|Wadebridge]].{{Citation needed|reason=These criticisms are not backed by reliable references|date=May 2019}}

In 2000, requests by [[DB Cargo UK|EWS]] and [[English China Clays]] to reopen former rail links for freight paths such as the former [[Weedon to Leamington Spa line]] were objected to by the charity. Sustrans refused to support the application unless the rail promoter provided an alternative cycle track; EWS responded it was an uneconomic provision for both reopening and building replacement pathway expenses.{{Citation needed|reason=No source given|date=February 2025}}

Sustrans have occasionally been criticised by other cycling organisations and activists over allegedly giving approval to cycle facilities regarded by critics as inadequate or dangerous, allowing local councils and similar bodies to reject criticism by pointing out that Sustrans have approved of the design being questioned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=108894&hilit=sustrans|title=Sustrans new direction or the same old? - Cycling UK Forum|website=forum.cyclinguk.org}}</ref> In 2013, for example, the Cycling Embassy of Great Britain criticised Sustrans for the extensive use of "shared use" provision—in which cycle routes are placed on pavements and footpaths without separation from pedestrians—in designs that Sustrans prepared for London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/blog/2013/10/23/shared-use-footways-and-two-tier-provision|title = Shared use footways, and two-tier provision &#124; Cycling Embassy of Great Britain}}</ref> In 2016, the [[University of the West of England]]'s Centre for Transport and Society identified shared use designs, and in particular Sustrans Design Guidance which encouraged such designs, because shared-use paths can offer a source of conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. This is a cause for frustration among some campaigning for better cycling infrastructure provision.<ref>Hannah Delaney, Graham Parkhurst, & Steve Melia. (2016). Walking and cycling on shared-use paths: The user perspective. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Municipal Engineer. 170. 1-10. {{doi|10.1680/jmuen.16.00033}}.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Active Travel England]], related Government body

==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{EW charity|326550|Walk Wheel Cycle Trust}}
* [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2015/oct/21/cycling-three-quarters-britons-support-more-spending-bike-use Guardian article about Bike Life report, 2015]
* [https://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/ Sustrans Connect2 project]

===Specific routes===
* [http://tafftrail.org.uk The Taff Trail (NCN 8)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040831214823/http://www.valleyrides.co.uk/ Valley Rides By Tony Gibbs (NCN 8)]

{{NCN}}

[[Category:Cycling organisations in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:National Cycle Network]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Bristol]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Transport advocacy groups of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Transport charities based in the United Kingdom]]