Audit Reveals Slow Progress on Active Travel in Northern Ireland

As of September 30th, 2025, a critical audit report has revealed slow progress in the development of active travel in Northern Ireland. The report, conducted by Auditor General Dorinnia Carville, found no evidence that delivery to date has significantly increased active travel rates.

The audit highlighted several concerning findings. It revealed that the Department for Infrastructure's 2015 bicycle strategy, which set a target of 20% of all journeys under one mile to be cycled by 2025, has only achieved 1.1% as of 2021. Additionally, a 2016 strategic plan for greenways included an interim target of 330km of primary greenway infrastructure by March 2026, but by April 2025, only 130km, or 30% of the target, was in place.

The report also noted that the 2022 Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) mandated 10% of the overall transport budget, around £850 million annually, to be spent on active travel. However, the department's current annual spend on active travel is only around £50 million, significantly short of the required £85 million.

Auditor General Carville described the findings as "disappointing," stating that active travel has the potential to contribute substantially to improving health, protecting the environment, and supporting the local economy. She emphasized the need for the department to improve coordination, clarity, and transparency around future plans and funding prioritization, as well as engage more effectively with stakeholders to inspire confidence in the delivery of active travel initiatives.