Northern Ireland Urged to Significantly Boost Active Travel Spending

According to a report released on September 30th, 2025, Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has failed to meet its active travel targets and is at risk of not complying with the Climate Change Act's requirements. The report, authored by Auditor General Dorinnia Carville, states that the DfI's record on delivering active travel initiatives has been "poor and has had little impact."

The report highlights several key issues. Firstly, the Cycling Strategy launched 10 years ago has missed three of its key aims, with just 1.1% of journeys under a mile being cycled, compared to a 20% target. Secondly, the DfI is currently spending an estimated £50 million per year on active travel, well short of the £85 million required to meet the Climate Change Act's 10% target.

Carville has made seven recommendations, including the creation of a properly resourced and timetabled overarching strategy. She noted that "historic failure to deliver against high-profile plans has significantly damaged stakeholder confidence" in the department's ability to improve active travel. The report emphasizes that increased investment in active travel infrastructure represents an "opportunity" for the DfI, but only if the funding is spent "efficiently and effectively."

The Walk, Wheel, Cycle Trust, formerly known as Sustrans, expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress, urging the DfI to "redouble its efforts" on both infrastructure and behavior change programs to achieve the necessary modal shift.